Crime gang who stole over £115,000 in ATM theft and targeted multiple Lancashire homes and businesses jailed for total of 29 years

A gang of thieves which caused misery across rural communities in Lancashire has been jailed for a total of 29 years.

Six members of an organised crime group, which operated mainly in north Lancashire and south Cumbria, appeared at Preston Crown Court this week (February 20 and 21).

Each member of the gang was sentenced for the parts they played in a series of thefts carried out between April and September 2018.

Members of the gang broke into domestic properties and businesses, stealing thousands of pounds worth of property during the crime spree.

They also stole vehicles, targeted four ATM machines and caused thousands of pounds worth of damage to property.

In total the value of property stolen and the amount of damage caused by the gang totalled hundreds of thousands of pounds.

All six men initially denied their involvement, but eventually pleaded guilty at court.

Ch Insp Rebecca Smith, from Lancashire Police, said: “This was a challenging enquiry into an organised crime group who were responsible for a high number of ATM attacks and commercial and residential burglaries which took place in three counties across the north of England.

"The victims of these thefts ranged from large national companies to individual people who were targeted at home. The gang predominantly struck in isolated areas, stealing high-value items, many of which their victims depended on for their livelihoods.

"They gave no thought whatsoever to the effect they were having, both financially and emotionally, on those they stole from.

“I am pleased that the Thexton brothers were apprehended after going on the run and that they, and their accomplices, are now facing a significant amount of time behind bars.

“I hope these sentences send a message that at Lancashire Police we place huge importance on tackling serious organised crime. This type of activity has a significant negative impact on communities and while those responsible benefit significantly from their crimes, their victims suffer serious and far-reaching consequences.

"We are committed to protecting our communities by disrupting and preventing it. We will leave no stone unturned in tracking down those responsible and bringing them to justice. Those who think they can come to Lancashire and commit crimes such as these will not be made welcome.”

Today (February 21) the men were sentenced to the following:

- Brian Thexton, 43, of Park Road, Bishop Auckland, was sentenced to nine years six months for two counts of conspiracy to burgle a dwelling and three counts of conspiracy to steal

- Ronald Thexton, 36, of Park Road, Bishop Auckland, was sentenced to five years 10 months for three counts of conspiracy to burgle a dwelling and three counts of conspiracy to steal

- Michael James Campbell, 28, of no fixed address, was sentenced to two years five months for two counts of conspiracy to burgle dwelling properties

- Connor Palmer, 22, of Burnhope Close, Crook (Co Durham), was sentenced to three years seven months for conspiracy to burgle a non-dwelling, six counts of conspiracy to steal

- Andrew Maddox, 40, of Lincoln Drive, Willington (Co Durham), was sentenced to five years for conspiracy to burgle a dwelling, six counts of conspiracy to steal.

- Jordan Fannan, 28, of Oxcliffe Road, Morecambe, was sentenced to two years eight months for two counts of conspiracy to burgle a non-dwelling

What were some of the crimes the gang committed?

The group targeted rural businesses and properties, stealing cars, tools, a caravan, jewellery and money, among other items.

They also made off with £115,490 after stealing an ATM machine from a supermarket in Durham.

The group also stole £6,000 from a cash machine in Carnforth, though they were interrupted by police and ended up fleeing the scene, leaving the cash in a pile of rubble in the road.

The ATM attack in Carnforth caused around £170,000 worth of damage.

How was the gang stopped?

In May 2019, officers from Lancashire led an operation – codenamed Operation Irwell – in Durham to arrest several members of the gang.

During the raids, Brian and Ronald Thexton fled from police.

They were wanted until July when they were arrested at a campsite in the Gisburn area of Lancashire.

Some of the items stolen by the gang have been recovered.

Lancashire Police will now look at pursuing the gang under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

The list of incidents each defendant pleaded guilty to is as follows:

Brian Thexton:

- August 24, 2018 - burglary at house in Bolton-le-Sands

- August 24, 2018 - burglary at house in St Michaels

- September 13, 2018 - theft of an ATM machine from the Spar shop, Milnthorpe

- September 15, 2018 - theft of an ATM machine from the Spar shop, Hambleton

- September 17, 2018 - theft of an ATM machine at Sainsbury’s, Brandon, Durham

Ronald Thexton:

- April 27, 2018 – theft of trailers, a stove, a motorised wheelbarrow, mower and tools worth £12,800 from a business in Goosnargh

- April 27-28, 2018 – theft of tools worth just over £30,000 from a house in Grange-over-Sands

- May 15, 2018 – theft of a log splitter worth £10,000 from a business in Silverdale

- May 17, 2018 – theft of a car worth an estimated £14,000 from a house in Slyne, Lancaster

- June 1, 2018 – theft of a safe from a house in Nateby

- July 21, 2018 – theft of a car, designer handbag and clothes and two televisions, worth a total of almost £64,000, from a house in Halton

Michael Campbell:

- August 24, 2018 – theft of a gun cabinet (empty) from a house in St Michaels

- August, 24 2018 – burglary (nothing stolen) at house in Bolton-le-Sands

Andrew Maddox:

- May 29, 2018 – theft of a car worth £3,500 from a farm in Kendal

- June 1, 2018 – theft of a safe from a house in Nateby

- June, 5-6, 2018 – theft of a trailer and tools worth around £19,000 from a business in Garstang

- June 7-8, 2018 – theft of a caravan and Land Rover from two businesses in Ellel (on the same night) worth a total of around £26,000

- June 28, 2018 – theft of agricultural equipment including a trailer, a mobile engine crane and off-road golf buggies worth around £16,000 from a business in Carnforth

- July 4, 2018 – theft of around £15,000 worth of tools from a business in Goosnargh

Connor Palmer:

- April 29, 2018 – theft of tools and a quad bike from a business in Silverdale

- May 28-29, 2018 – theft of a car worth £3,500 from a farm in Kendal

- June 5-6, 2018 – theft of a trailer and tools worth around £19,000 from a business in Garstang

- June 7-8, 2018 – theft of a caravan and Land Rover from two businesses in Ellel (on the same night) worth a total of around £26,000

- June 28, 2018 – theft of agricultural equipment including a trailer, a mobile engine crane and off-road golf buggies worth around £16,000 from a business in Carnforth

- July 4, 2018 – theft of around £15,000 worth of tools from a business in Goosnargh

Jordan Fannan:

- April 5, 2018 – theft of an ATM machine from Co-op in Carnforth

- April 29, 2018 – theft of tools and a quad bike from a business in Silverdale, worth a total of almost £14,000