Two members of a gang who used explosives to blow up ATMs and steal tens of thousands of pounds have been jailed.
Matthew Parsons and Andrew Cox, both 26, were sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court on Tuesday for their part in a gang operation targeting cash machines across South Wales.
The gang risked their lives as they used oxygen, acetone and petrol to blow up cash machines and gain access to safes.
In October 2014 Parsons was involved on a raid at a Barclays Bank on Treforest Industrial Estate where a sledgehammer was used to force entry to the back door.
In the process £80,000 worth of damage was caused, the court heard, and more than £40,000 was stolen.
On November 1, 2014, the court heard Cox was involved when a HSBC cash machine on Bridgend Industrial Estate was targeted causing nearly £29,000 worth of damage, although no cash was stolen.
During another attack on a Barclays Bank at Bridgend Industrial Estate on the same night around £36,000 was stolen and £73,000 of damage was caused.
Following a lengthy police investigation involving forensic examination, including the investigation of telephone calls, the pair were arrested.
Both initially denied their involvement but pleaded guilty at Cardiff Crown Court.
Last year two other men who were involved in the operation, Russell Luke Bennett and Benjamin Brian Barrett from Bristol, were jailed for a combined sixteen-and-a half years .
Parsons, from Tavistock Road in Bristol, who has appeared before court on 16 occasions for 23 matters since 2006, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to cause an explosion likely to endanger life and cause serious injury to properly and one count of burglary in relation to the Treforest incident.
He was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison.
Cox, from Charlton Road in Bristol, who has appeared before court 26 times for a total of 56 offences since 2002, pleaded guilty to conspiring to cause an explosion likely to endanger life and cause serious injury to property, attempted burglary, and burglary in relation to the incidents in Bridgend.
He was jailed for eight years.
The Recorder of Cardiff , Judge Eleri Rees, heard the partners of both defendants were pregnant.
Judge Rees said: “Both of you have extensive and unattractive records and you should take this opportunity to reflect on your family commitments.
“If you make good use of your time in prison you could resolve to come out and live a different kind of life, if not for you but for others.”
see-http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/two-men-stole-tens-thousands-10690089
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