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5 convicted of
ATM thefts/attempt thefts
MERSEYSIDE Police have
confirmed that 2 men, on Thursday, 10 July 2014, have been convicted
following a Crown Court trial for a series of thefts/attempt thefts
from cash machines across the North West and central England. A
further 3 men pleaded guilty in an earlier hearing. All 5 men were
charged with Conspiracy to cause an explosion under s.3 (1) (a)
Explosive Substances Act 1883,and Conspiracy to commit burglary
other than a dwelling, Contrary to Sec 1(1) Criminal Law Act 1977.
► Thomas Whittingham, 28 years, of
Broughton Hall Road, West Derby was found guilty of both offences.
► Anthony Bushell. 29 years. of Childers Street, Old Swan was found
guilty of both offences.
► Craig Cartwright, 39 years, of Vinecote Road, Coventry was found
guilty of both offences.
► Kurt Beddoes, 31 years of Hanford Avenue, Orrell Park was found
guilty of both offences.
► Ian Ellis, 30 years, of Warrington Road, Rainhill was found guilty
of both offences.
► All 5 men are to be sentenced on Friday,
5 September 2014.
Meryside Police have said that:- "These men were responsible
for ATM attacks at 28 premises (banks, post offices and
supermarkets) in Wirral, Lancashire, Cheshire, Southport, Liverpool,
Prescot, Loughborough, Gloucester, Birmingham, Northampton and
Derby. These attacks resulted in losses to the businesses targeted
by the thieves, of approximately £1.5m, not to mention damage to the
properties estimated to be in excess of £200,000."
Detective Chief Inspector Gayle Rooney, from the Matrix Serious
Organised Crime Team, added that:- "This is a culmination of
year long investigation into crimes involving thefts from cash point
machines across the North West and Central England. Since January
2013, officers from the specialist Matrix Serious Organised Crime
Team have worked tirelessly, using all the resources available to us
to identify those responsible and take positive action. This has
included working closely with Warwickshire and West Mercia Police,
and both the North West and Midlands Regional Organised Crime Units,
as well as detectives from ten other forces These 5 men thought they
were untouchable and they used hazardous tactics in targeting ATM's,
clearly endangering members of the public. The techniques used by
the men involved in these attacks were extremely dangerous and we
are fortunate that no one was hurt. Offenders often believe that by
committing crimes in different force areas they can escape detection
and arrest, but Police forces across the UK do work together,
regardless of boundaries. This case is an example of painstakingly
piecing together huge amounts of complex evidence, to bring people
to justice. It was a thorough, extensive investigation by officers
from the Matrix Serious Organised Crime Team. I would like to thank
all of those involved in the investigative process and the Crown
Prosecution Service, who have worked together to bring these men to
justice. These men were driven by greed and a need to fund lavish
lifestyles, expensive cars, holidays and large houses. They didn't'
think about the danger of what they were doing and the potential
that they could cause serious and significant injuries to others
through their reckless actions. These convictions send out a strong
message to those who commit these types of crime. Merseyside Police
is, and will always be, relentless in its targeting of criminals
involved in serious and organised crime and for us there are no
boundaries."
Maria Corr, Senior Crown Prosecutor with the Crown Prosecution
Service in Mersey and in Cheshire, have worked on the case
throughout the investigation and charged all of the defendants. This
involved working closely with West Mercia, Merseyside and other
Police forces. She said:- "This has been a complex and
painstaking investigation and we would like to thank the police for
their work in helping us bring these men to justice. The cash
machines were often in residential areas and these men blew them up
without a thought for the safety of the local community or the
inconvenience caused to people who needed to get cash. This was an
organised gang who thought of nothing, but their own criminal greed.
Their conviction should send a message out that people who get
involved in this sort of activity will be caught."
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The Hightown Church that was
Built a Century Ago
Photographs by C Trollope
IT was on 15 July 1914,
that the Church of England, Church of St Stephen, was consecrated in
Hightown, Merseyside. It was, at 1st, a chapel of 1 of the Crosby
churches, but shortly after 15 years, it became a Parish Church. It
was built for the hamlet, now town, named Hightown with its own
railway station and some shops. The celebrations began on Friday, 10
July, 2014; then on Saturday a Fair type event took place aimed at
the younger inhabitants of the town. The Celebration Eucharist, at
10.30am, on Sunday, 13 July 2014, saw the Church building filled to
capacity. The service was followed by a magnificent celebratory
buffet lunch in the Church Hall and later that day the concluding
event occurred, at which the Mayor of Sefton attended along with
other dignitaries.
During the morning service, the choir sang a Centenary Anthem,
written by Hilary Burgoyne ARCM, LGSM, based on Psalm 138. The
Sermon was given by The Archdeacon of Liverpool, the Venerable Ricky
Panter; he based his talk on the idea as to what the founders in
1914 would find if they used a tardis to see if their hopes and
aspirations had fulfilled. Then he talked about the next hundred
years. Among the congregation were several priests, one of whom had
been one of St Stephen's vicars, some of the Sefton Deanery Priests
and Readers. Everyone was most impressed by the beauty of the
refurbished Sunday School Window which was in memory of Miss Chris
Scott and of the drawing of the proposed Centenary project's new
entrance porch.
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