Gang jailed for blowing up ATMs in £1.5m string of raids

The men used explosives to blow the machines apart Credit: Merseyside Police

A gang of five men who used explosives to blow apart cash machines, stealing around £1.5 million, have been jailed for a total of 82 years.

Craig Cartwright, aged 39, of Vinecote Road, Coventry, was among the gang, which raided 28 ATM machines across the UK.

They included four in Leicestershire, as well as cash points at supermarkets, banks and post offices in Gloucester, Birmingham, Northampton and Derby.

As well as stealing the money, the gang caused more than £200,000 worth of damage.

Craig Cartwright was among the gang of five men Credit: Merseyside Police

Detective Inspector Carl Moore, from West Mercia Police’s Serious and Organised Crime Unit, welcomed the sentences.

The gang stole around £1.5m in the raids Credit: Merseyside Police

Cartwright admitted conspiracy to cause an explosion and conspiracy to commit burglary, and was jailed for 17 years.

Also sentenced for the same offences were:

  • Thomas Whittingham, 28, of Broughton Hall Road, West Derby, Merseyside. He was found guilty of both offences and sentenced to 18 years

  • Anthony Bushell, 29, of Childers Street, Old Swan, Merseyside. He was found guilty of both offences and sentenced to 17 years

  • Kurt Beddoes, 31, of Hanford Avenue, Orrell Park, Merseyside. He pleaded guilty to both offences and has been sentenced to 17 years

  • Ian Ellis, 30, of Warrington Road, Rainhill, Merseyside. He pleaded guilty to both offences and has been sentenced to 13 years

The men used explosives to blow the machines apart Credit: Merseyside Police

Det Ch Insp Gayle Rooney, from the Matrix Serious Organised Crime Team (MSOC), said officers from more than 10 forces had worked together to bring the gang to justice.