CCTV: Lancaster and Morecambe gang members jailed for raid on store's ATM

CCTV of the gang during their botched raid on the Co-op in Corbridge.

The group of masked men forced entry to the Co-op in Corbridge, activating the alarm before attacking the ATM. They were in the process of removing it when they were arrested.

They failed to gain access to any cash.

Five men were caught red-handed in the act of stealing the cash machine by officers from Durham Constabulary and Northumbria Police at 4am on Friday, January 8.

An Audi estate car that was being used in the offence was also seized.

A further man was stopped and arrested a short time later in connection with the same offence, and a further vehicle was seized.

Earlier this month the six gang members all pleaded guilty and on Monday February 22, they were sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court.

They were John Robert Barker, 25, of Barley Cop Lane, Lancaster; Kenneth Sharkey Yorke, 34, of Sandylands Promenade, Morecambe; Thomas Graham Michael Lloyd, 29, of Norfolk Street, Lancaster; Anthony Hallimond, 28, of Cheviot Walk, Coundon; Neil Anthony Lowes, 39, of Middlewood Avenue, St Helen Auckland; and Ronald Thexton, 32, of Park Road, Witton Park.

They were jailed for sentences ranging from two years (Lloyd and Barker) to three years (Thexton and Lowes).

Hallimond, 28, of Cheviot Walk, Coundon, was sentenced to 32 months.

Yorke, 24, of Sandylands Promenade, Morecambe, was jailed for 28 months.

Commenting after the men were sentenced, Det Chief Insp Dave Ashton said; “Along with our colleagues from Northumbria Police we were in a position to react quickly to a crime that was in action and to make the arrests within minutes of the break-in at the Co-Op.

“Criminals operate across police boundaries, but forces are well-versed in sharing information so we can respond and take swift action.

“We are still investigating a number of similar incidents, and related offences which took place across our force area throughout 2015. And we will certainly be looking at those sentenced today with a view to them being potential suspects in those ongoing investigations.”