Gun-theft Gang Jailed For String of Robberies

Kieran MurrayMarc DeganisJason MurrayKarl GallagherAiden MaundAlan FieldAndrew HawthorneCraig ClarkeFive men from Birmingham were today (Friday, 16 December) jailed for plotting a series of robberies in the West Midlands, North Worcestershire and Staffordshire including one in which a large number of firearms were stolen.

Two other men were sent to prison for conspiracy to burgle and a woman found guilty of handling a stolen shotgun was also given a jail term. They all appeared before His Honour Judge John Cavell for sentencing at Worcester Crown Court after being convicted at earlier hearings. Another man convicted of plotting robberies will be sentenced next week (Tuesday, 20 December).

Alan Field, aged 50 (Date Of Birth 8/2/61), of Windermere House, Vincent Drive, Birmingham was given 20 years and 8 months for conspiracy to burgle a property at Fiery Hill Road, Barnt Green, on 7 August, 2007 and a further charge of conspiracy to commit robbery at that property and two other homes in Hampton Lane, Solihull; and Raikes Lane, Lichfield, Staffordshire, in April and May last year (2010). Field pleaded guilty to these offences during the trial and will therefore serve at least 10 years and 4 months of his sentence.

Marc Deganis, aged 45 (DOB 5/4/66), formerly of Quinton; and Andrew Hawthorne, aged 37 (DOB 11/11/74), of Blandford Road, Quinton, were each given 3 year terms for their part in the conspiracy to burgle the Fiery Hill Road property.

Along with Field, Aiden Maund, aged 20 (DOB 20/3/91), of Bridgeburn Road; Craig Clarke, aged 30 (DOB 4/6/81), of Farnham Road; Karl Gallagher, aged 23 (DOB 22/11/88), of Newcombe Road; and Kieran Murray, aged 27 (DOB 8/1/84), of Willow Drive (all Birmingham) were jailed for conspiracy to commit three robberies at the homes in Fiery Hill Road, Barnt Green; Hampton Lane, Solihull; and Raikes Lane, Lichfield, Staffordshire.

Maund and Clarke both admitted the charge during the trial. Maund was given a sentence of 16 years of which he must serve at least 8 years. Clarke was given 17 years and must serve a minimum of 8 years 6 months.

Karl Gallagher and Kieran Murray did not admit the charge and were previously found guilty in September, 2011, after a seven-week trial. Gallagher received 16 years and Kieran Murray 18 years and both will serve at least half of those sentences.

Jason Murray aged 29 (DOB 17/6/82), of Victoria Road, Stirchley, Birmingham was also found guilty at the same trial in September 2011 after denying the charge against him. He will be sentenced separately at Worcester Crown Court on Tuesday, 20 December. 

Jayne Morrison, aged 32 (DOB 14/10/79), of Antrobus Road, Handsworth, Birmingham, was given a 3 year sentence for the handling offence.

The gang were sentenced to a total of 96 years behind bars.

The first of the offences took place on 7 August, 2007, when Deganis, posing as a police officer, and Field as a Customs and Excise official, talked their way into the home of a couple in Fiery Hill Road, saying they were looking for illegal guns. The owner became suspicious and contacted the police after they had left following a search of the premises lasting more than two hours.

Detective Sergeant Gerry Smith of West Mercia Police said that this incident was a precursor to a robbery at the same property on April 26, 2010, when several men forced their way in and tied up the couple before escaping with 15 firearms including shotguns. During the robbery the sister of one of the victims turned up at the address and was also tied up by the gang.

On May 8, 2010, there was another robbery at Hampton Lane, Solihull, during which a couple were attacked and tied up. The gang stole £400 after forcing one of their victims to hand over the cash.

A week later (15 May) another couple were attacked in their home in Raikes Lane, Lichfield, when several men armed with knives forced their way in, tied them up, and then stole three cars, cash, jewellery and Spode pottery. 

The same evening one of the stolen cars, a Jaguar, was spotted by police in the Birmingham area and Kieran Murray was arrested following a pursuit. Jason Murray's iPhone was subsequently found to have a picture of a Rolex watch stolen from Raikes Lane and Alan Field was also later linked to jewellery taken in the same raid.

West Mercia Police led a joint investigation involving the West Midland and Staffordshire forces. After linking some of the defendants to the Barnt Hill robbery officers executed a search warrant at Morrison's home on 29 May, 2010, and found one of the stolen shotguns.

When Field's home was searched by officers the same day (29 May) they found a holdall with a police insignia and registration plates for a car similar to one stolen at Raikes Lane. During the investigation detectives also seized a fake police warrant card bearing Field's photograph.

Passing sentencing today, Judge Cavell said: "These robberies were quite terrifying for the victims who believed they were safe in their own homes but were physically assaulted, tied up, threatened with knives and had violence used against them.

"This was professional criminality of the utmost seriousness. Victims feared that they would be raped and killed and the 999 recordings were a testament to the terror you inflicted on them. I have no doubt that they have suffered serious psychological harm as a result.

"The victims of all three houses have either moved or are about to move because of what you did. Theirs lives are permanently and adversely affected."

Judge Cavell also praised the officers who worked on the case, saying they had faced a very difficult task.

Following sentencing, Detective Sergeant Smith said: "Those members of the gang who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rob only did so after the trial had started and four of their victims had already given evidence. They forced these people to go through the extra ordeal of appearing in court and have shown no remorse whatsoever.

"I would like to pay tribute to the courage of the victims who did testify, particularly as some of them suffered injuries during the robberies.

"This was a dangerous, organised crime gang who were engaged in committing offences which appeared to be getting progressively more serious. The robberies were clearly planned and they were more than happy to use significant violence if the need arose.

"The effect this sort of crime has on victims who are tied up and assaulted in their own homes should not be underestimated and the sentences handed down by the court today reflect that. This gang posed a real threat to communities across the region. Society is a lot safer now these criminals are behind bars, where they deserve to be.

"This was a large scale investigation and hopefully the outcome will reassure people that such crimes will not be tolerated. Robberies of this nature are thankfully rare in our area but those involved in planning or carrying them out should be left in no doubt that we will use every resource at our disposal to ensure they are brought to justice."

Issued: 16 December, 2011