Police were called to a Co-op in Panners Parade, Great Notley, in the early hours of 7 January after a brazen ATM robbery. Five men rammed a Ford Transit van into the shop’s shutters, causing extensive damage, and used it to rip the ATM from the wall.
The crooks then bundled the stolen cash machine into two getaway cars – a stolen Audi and Volkswagen Golf – both taken by force in the days leading up to the heist. The wreckage of the ATM was later found dumped in nearby Colne Engaine at 6:20am.
Detectives quickly identified the suspects as Shane Parker, Wayne Parker, Jamie Parker, Danny Johnson, and James Hamilton. On 22 February, police executed multiple warrants and arrested four of the men. Hamilton was detained later after a high-speed chase in a stolen Ford Mondeo. All five were charged with conspiring to commit burglary alongside other offences.
With overwhelming evidence stacked against them, each man pleaded guilty and faced Chelmsford Crown Court on 18 October.
Sentences handed down include:
- Shane Parker, 25, of Comberton, received 14 years for burglary and arson.
- Wayne Parker, 27, from Long Green, was sentenced to nearly 14 years.
- Jamie Parker, 37, from Wicken, got 7.5 years.
- Danny Johnson, 22, of Bedford, was handed six years.
- James Hamilton, 23, of Chelmsford, received nine years for burglary, arson, vehicle theft, and dangerous driving.
Detective Inspector Frazer Low, leading the investigation, said: “These men thought they could get away with these vicious and damaging crimes. They were dead wrong. Thanks to swift police work, we tracked them down quickly and had the evidence to charge them.
“They had no choice but to admit guilt. To anyone thinking of committing crime in Essex – we will find you, arrest you, and get you behind bars for a long time.”
Chief Inspector Martin Richards, Braintree district commander, praised the team: “This was top detective work that put career criminals away for good. Our officers are dedicated to keeping Braintree and Uttlesford safe. These convictions send a strong message and make the district safer for all.”
Originally published by UKNIP.
