Eryl Crump our man in court
Some fantastic work by chief reporter Eryl Crump tweeting from Mold Crown Court.
Total sentence handed down by Judge Niclas Parry
Gang sentenced to a total of 43 years and 9 months in prison, by may count.
Mark Bowen - 27 months
Mark Bowen, 47, of Weston Avenue, Whittington, Oswestry, is handed a 27-month prison term.
Judge praises North Wales Police for their diligent investigation and adjourns the hearing.
Miles Delaney - Five years
Miles Delaney, 33, of Wrexham Caravan Site, Wrexham is sentenced to a term of five years.
Total of sentences
Eryl has done some maths on these sentences
Francis McGuire - 5 1/2 years
Francis McGuire, 31, South Sea, Wrexham is jailed for five and a half years.
Miles Berry - Five years
Miles Berry, 24, Kings Road, Connah’s Quay is sentenced to five years in prison.
Stephen Berry
Stephen Berry, 18, Factory Road, Queensferry is sent to a Young Offenders Institution for two years.
Hearing to resume
Judge is coming back into court and the hearing is about to resume
Brief break
Kevin Joseph McGuire - Six 1/2 years
Kevin Joseph McGuire, 34, of Victoria Road, Ellesmere Port is also jailed for six and a half years.
John James Purcell - Six years
Michael McGuire - Six 1/2 years
Michael McGuire, 42, of Berry Lands, Hamstead Lane, Wrexham is handed a six and a half year prison term.
John Purcell - Five years
John Purcell, 24, of Wern Ucha, Bagillt is sentenced to a term of five years in prison.
Judge about to pass sentence
In deciding sentences the judge has considered pre-sentence reports, testimonials and what counsel has presented the judge said.
Guilty pleas after trial had begun
Householders "terrified"
While confrontation did take place there was no violence and no one was hurt although householders were terrified the judge said.
"Many homes targeted"
"Professional criminal conduct"
The judge says “this was professional criminal conduct, it was planned and sophisticated”.
Bowen had sports car
Received stolen items
Mark Bowen, 47, of Whittington near Oswestry, received only some stolen items from gang members his barrister Stephen Edwards says .
Bowen, a legitimate jewelery dealer, was a significant player but played no part in planning the burglaries.
He shows remorse, says defence
Barrister addresses court
Barrister Philip Clemo addresses court on behalf of Miles Berry, 24, of Kings Road, Connah’s Quay
Criminal gang used Beatles wigs
A criminal gang used Beatles wigs and charity shop clothes to disguise themselves as theystole tens of thousands of pounds worth of gold, cash and cars.
"Went along with plans of others"
Philip Clemo addresses court on behalf of Miles Berry, 24, Kings Road, Connah’s Quay He went along with the plans of others the court told.
To resume
Reporter Eryl Crump is in the court.
To resume imminently
Court will resume imminently. Mitigation of defendants to continue.
Court to resume at 2pm
Court will resume at 2pm.
Hearing adjourned for lunch
The hearing has been adjourned for an hour for lunch.
"Family men"
Jail term "inevitable"
Early guilty plea should give him credit
Stephen Berry
Mitigation being presented for Stephen Berry, 18, of Factory Road, Queensferry He pleaded guilty at the start of the trial.
Mitigation continues
Submissions being made
Barrister Sukdev Garcha is making submissions on behalf of Michael McGuire, Hamstead Lane, Wrexham.
Power of criminal behaviour order
If an order is granted among its conditions it would prohibit the gang cold calling members of the public.
Criminal behaviour order postponed
There’ll be another hearing next month
Mitigation for defendants has started
Short break
There has been a short break in court.
Asian community hit hard by thefts
The effects struck the Asian community hard with jewelry of sentimental value stolen and significant sums on upgrading security spent.
"Massive effect" of crimes
A file of Victim Personal Statements was handed to the judge yesterday They are not being read out in court but had a “massive effect”
"POCA" hearing to be held in future
Police can make orders to seize stolen and ill-gotten cash
Operation Analogue
Police also listened to discussions about the value of expensive watches, which houses to burgle and where to find suitable cars to clone.
The bug also picked up the occupants surprise at being stopped, and subsequently arrested, by police
Gang members "had so much money"
They’re getting no sympathy from me.
"No comment"
Arrested the gang members made no admissions and gave largely “no comment” answers to detectives questions.
Dealers identified Asian gold
Dealers in Asian gold in the Birmingham area identified property sold through them by a gang member.
Police found Beatles wig
Arrests in July
Number plates from Salford
The gang would travel to Salford to obtain plates from a shop in the city and would visit car parks looking for suitable cars to clone.
Gang targeted Oswestry
In another incident in Oswestry the gang stole £200 from an elderly man they saw leaving his house to collect his pension.
The gang moved from Oswestry to Chester where two other burglaries were committed before the vehiciles were driven back to Chriselton.
Inspecting streets in Oswestry
Gang used walkie talkies
CCTV showed one of the gang members had a walkie talkie type radio, reports Eryl Crump.
Opening statement continues
Prosecutor John Philpotts continues to outline the burglaries carried out by the gang.
Gang moved their "depot"
A Mondeo was found burnt out on June 20. Thought to be one used by the gang.
Beatles wigs
For you young ones out there, just in case you wanted to know what a Beatles wig might look like.
"Beatles wigs" to disguise themselves
Some of the gang were seen to be wearing “Beatle” wigs.
A clear attempts, says Mr Philpotts, to disguise themselves.
Gang turned attention to Stoke
In late June the gang’s focus switched to the West Midlands with burglaries in the Stoke area
Cheap cars used for crimes
In addition to stolen vehicles the gang purchased cars cheaply from people advertising them for sale A Ford Mondeo and a Focus among them
Traffic data vital
Police investigation involved the study of ANPR cameras which monitor traffic on North Wales roads.
Distraction burglary
At least one distraction burglary was committed by members of the gang.
This took place near Ellesmere Port, the court hears.
Charity shop disguises
The gang would visit charity shops to buy clothing cheap enough to throw away later Gang seen leaving various shops in the Wrexham area.
Cash converters...
A gang member used the cash sorting machine at a supermarket to convert coins into cash the court heard.
Elderly man burgled
"No hands"
The gang used stolen vehicles One driver was seen trying not to touch the steering wheel with his hand by a witness.
False number plates
During one burglary good quality CCTV filmed some of the men approaching the house and gave the police valuable information.
Suspicious behaviour in the Wrexham area was spotted in May last year by an off duty police officer.
The number plate was found to be false.
Higher carat gold stolen
The jewellery was of a higher carat gold than normal, sometimes referred to as Asian gold says the barrister.
Mr Philpotts is outlining the effect some of the burglaries have had on the people whose homes were ransacked
Operation Analogue
Operation Analogue launched by North Wales Police.
Defendants admitted their crimes
All the defendants pleaded guilty during their trial and are due to be sentenced, reports Eryl Crump.
More than £100,00 worth of property stolen
Prosecutor John Philpotts says the total value of items stolen was in excess of £100,000
Sounds like a full dock
10 in the dock
Submissions from defence
Court preparing to begin
Prosecution opening statement
I am told the prosecution expects the opening statement against the defendants to last roughly an hour.
Slight delay
Having experienced a few of these big sentences myself, I imagine the court is getting itself in order at the moment.
Nine men scheduled
At least nine men are scheduled to be sentenced this morning for their part in this massive criminal operation.
Sentencing after other hearing
The sentencing will be conducted by His Honour Judge Niclas Parry once another matter is dealt with.
Gang to be sentenced
Major criminal gang to be sentenced at Mold Crown Court this morning.
Their crime spree mainly focused on North Wales and Cheshire, but also stretched from Merseyside to the West Midlands, taking in 43 victims and eight police force areas.
The group are part of the traveller community and Operation Analogue was launched by North Wales Police to catch them.
see-http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/live-gold-sports-cars-theft-11858125
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