Four men jailed for total of 17 years after Desborough shop raid

Four burglars have been sentenced to a total of 17 years in prison for their roles in attacking five stores, including the Co-op in Desborough.
Northampton Crown CourtNorthampton Crown Court
Northampton Crown Court

Their first robbery was committed at The Co-op, Braybrooke Road, Desborough on April 3, 2014, Northampton Crown Court was told.

Having forced open the shutters, they used dustbins to steal cigarettes from the shop, before being disturbed by the owner.

Members of the gang then struck at the Co-op in Croughton, south Northamptonshire on April 15, 2014.

They unsuccessfully attempted to pull the ATM machine out of the store using a large industrial strap attached to a 4X4 vehicle.

Police were later able to connect gang members to the purchase of the strap.

On April 22, 2014, members of the gang attempted to break into The Co-op in Brixworth, Northamptonshire. They failed to get in.

Later on the same night, they broke into the One Stop Shop, Olney, Buckinghamshire, and stole cigarettes valued at more than £6,000.

Again on the same night, they struck at the Budgens store inBromham, Bedfordshire. They stole more than £1,700 worth of cigarettes.

An Audi S4 recovered by police during the investigation had approximately £7,000 - £8,000 worth of cigarettes in the rear, along with a sledgehammer and a crowbar.

Wayne Loveridge, aged 24, and Billy Foster, aged 26, both of Ecton Lane Park, Northampton, were sentenced to four years each for conspiracy to burgle.

Bobby-Joe Stanley, aged 28, of Sandy, Bedfordshire, was sentenced to four years for conspiracy to burgle.

John Stanley, aged 39, of Hitchin, Hertfordshire, was sentenced to five years for the same conspiracy.

The four men had pleaded guilty. Loveridge and Foster pleaded guilty to committing an offence in Croughton.

Bobby-Joe Stanley and John Stanley pleaded guilty to offences in Brixworth, Olney and Bromham.