Kent Man Jailed for Country-Wide ATM Attacks

Four men have been sentenced to a total of 17 years for the theft or attempted theft of 17 cash machines and 10 vehicles across the country including several in Kent. George Welford, who is from Hoo in Rochester, was sentenced to five years and was banned from driving for the same period at Ipswich Crown Court on Thursday.

The 40-year-old construction worker along with Steward Bentley, Paul Mockford and Martin Goodwin had pleaded guilty to the crimes carried out between May 2007 and July 2008.

Detective Sergeant Rob Haines from Kent Police’s serious and organised crime unit, which led the investigation, said: “We have carried out an intensive investigation together with our colleagues from other forces in order to bring these men before the courts.”

“In this joint investigation we have established the full extent of damage, chaos and disregard all four men have had in order to satisfy their own relentless greed.”

“These men have targeted areas across the country with no thought of the damage they have left in their wake.”

“This investigation shows the extent our officers will go to in order to bring those to justice who continue to offend in our community and even across the country.”

The thefts and damage caused to property totalled more than £500,000.
Suffolk Police arrested Bentley, who has been sentenced to three years in prison and a driving ban, at the scene of an attempted ATM theft in Ipswich last April.

Forensic investigation of two vehicles found nearby linked them to Mockford, who was sentenced to five years in prison and received a driving ban for the same period, and Welford.

In Kent, an attempted theft was made in Maidstone Road, Rainham last February which caused around £4,900 of damage.

An ATM at a Dover garage was attacked and £18,210 was stolen with damage costs totaling £17,500.

In Hawkhurst the men stole nearly £10,000 from a cash machine and caused £10,000 of damage.

In Tenterden near Ashford £18,000 was stolen from a cash machine causing damage estimated at £12,000.

Other ATM attack and vehicle thefts took place in Hertfordshire, Woking, Nottingham and Northampton. Godwin was charged in connection with 22 of the offences during the police investigation and was sentenced to four years and banned from driving for three years.

Men Jailed Over ATM Robbery Raids

Six travellers from Cambridgeshire who helped steal almost £1m from cash machines across the East Midlands have been jailed at Lincoln Crown Court. John Smith, 35, and Wesley Smith, 26, of Peterborough, and Geoffrey Manning, 33, and Steven Upton, 27, of Wisbech St Mary, were each jailed for nine years.

The men used high-powered cars to flee the raids

All four admitted conspiracy to commit burglary between 2006 and 2007.

Jason Bingley, 29 and Ross Drew, 36, of Peterborough, were jailed for 15 months each for conspiring to steal cars.

All the men pleaded guilty to the charges at an earlier hearing.

Raids took place in Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire and Warwickshire between April 2006 and October 2007.

The court heard how the men used drilling and welding equipment to steal more than £960,000 during 55 raids.

Passing sentence on Monday, Judge Michael Heath said the men, who threatened staff and rammed police cars during the raids, were involved in "serious and professional and organised crime".