Four members of a criminal gang behind a £4.5 million ram raid spree – including one smash-and-grab raid using actor Richard E Grant’s car – have been jailed.
William Connors, 29, Darren Eastaugh, 36, Anthony Rodwell, 33, and Sebastian Gnyp, 37, were all tied to a series of incidents where stolen luxury vehicles were used to smash into commercial properties.
Cash machines were ripped out, jewellery snatched, and cash boxes stolen before the criminals fled.
CCTV captured the shocking moments Land Rovers and Range Rovers were reversed at speed through the front of the shops, before thieves on foot entered to collect the valuables.
Withnail and I star Grant revealed in December 2021 that his car has been stolen and used to ram-raid a Tesco Express in Hanworth, west London, while he was stuck in a quarantine hotel.
“Woken at 4am - police called to report that my car had been stolen and used to ram-raid a Tesco Express! Like my pal @EricIdle is won’t [sic] to warble ’ALWAYS LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE OF LIFE!’” he wrote on Twitter.
At Isleworth crown court, the four defendants admitted involvement in a total of 14 burglaries and 33 thefts as well as three attempted burglaries and an attempted theft.
The break-ins happened between 14 November 2021 to 19 August 2022 at locations in north and west London, Dorset, Buckinghamshire, Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire.
Three of the men were caught by Met Police officers during a cash box raid at an Esso petrol station and Tesco Express outlet in Reading on August 19 last year.
The fourth man, Gnyp, was arrested the following month as detectives pieced together the evidence.
Scotland Yard said the estimated value of the thefts was more than £1.2 million and damage caused to vehicles and property totalled £1.8 million. Business owners who was forced to shut for repairs put their losses at almost £1.5 million.
At sentencing on Thursday, Connors, from Hayes, west London, and Eastaugh, of Feltham, were jailed for six years and six months each.
Rodwell, who lives in Ashford, Surrey, was jailed for five years and ten months and Gynp, of Ealing, was jailed for three years.
“Footage of the burglaries demonstrates the ruthlessness in which the men used the cars as battering rams to access shops tills and cash machines”, said Detective Constable Pippa Bregazzi, from the Met’s Flying Squad.
“They had absolutely no thought for the victims of their crimes and it was clear they would have continued to target vehicle owners and shops across the south of England unless they were stopped.
“I am glad they have now been brought to justice and will spend a lengthy time in jail.”
