Preston ATM burglars who used metal chains to yank cash machine from shop are jailed

Two bungling criminals who carried out a botched burglary to steal a cash machine from a Preston shop have been jailed.
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Nathan Green, 36, of Sale Road, Manchester, and Joseph Pike, 30, of Tabley Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, were among three men who targeted the Co-op store on Granton Walk, Preston, at 10.30pm on July 11.

They travelled to the scene in two vehicles, armed with an angle grinder, sledgehammers and metal cables, Preston's Sessions House Court was told.

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Prosecuting, David Clarke said members of public heard them using an angle grinder on the shop shutter and phoned police after they heard a loud bang.

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Sessions House

Nearby CCTV showed sparks flying as a hole was cut into the shutter, before the defendants attached metal cables to the ATM and the BMW to try to pull it away.

But the criminals fled empty handed because the cash machine was too heavy and had to be abandoned at the scene.

They later embarked on a police chase in Greater Manchester, reaching speeds of up to 125mph and smashing through bollards on a bridge over the M62 which was closed for repairs.

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When a stinger device eventually brought them to a standstill, Green then reversed and deliberately drove into a police car, causing more than £2,000 damage.

Green admits burglary, aggravated vehicle taking and dangerous driving, while Pike admits burglary and allowing himself to be carried in a stolen car.

Jailing Green for five years and Pike for three, Recorder Paul Taylor said: "The burglary had the hallmarks of organised crime.

"Firstly a stolen car was used on cloned plates, the numberplate plainly had to be prepared for that vehicle and observation took place to find a vehicle of the same kind.

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"Secondly you bought an angle grinder sledgehammer and metal rope with which to haul away the ATM.

"Thirdly one or more of you were wearing a balaclava.

"Fourthly the target - the ATM - was selected in the expectation that it would yield a large sum of cash.

"Finally the burglary was committed at night to avoid risk of detection.

"It was a joint enterprise. Therefore the only distinction to be drawn arises from a consideration of your criminal records."

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Green was banned from driving for five years and Pike for 37 and a half months.

A warrant was issued for a third man who failed to appear at court.

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