Gang who brought misery to town's streets jailed

A GANG who brought misery to a community, believed they ruled its streets and thought they were above the law have been jailed for more than 33 years in total.
By Adele Forrest
Published 4th Mar 2016, 15:30 GMT
Updated 11th Jan 2017, 10:45 GMT

But one man, Shaun Chamberlain, is still at large after failing to appear at court and police have warned when they catch him he will be handed an additional sentence.

Nine members of the gang known as the Pitsmoor Shotta Boys, which ironically operated in Mexborough not the area of Sheffield with which they share their name, pleaded guilty to a range of offences and incidents including violent disorder, drug possession, witness intimidation and robbery.

The were sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court on Thursday after changing their pleas to guilty on the day their trial was due to start last month.

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Three police investigations last year led to the nine men and one woman being charged.

Luke Blakemore (22), Chad Hatton (19) and Kieran Blakemore (20), were all arrested for drugs offences on January 26, 2015, when a warrant was executed at Hatton’s address on Schofield Street in Mexborough.

The trio were found in possession of class A and B drugs.

Twelve days later John Gilliver (27), Joshua Roddis (21), Lyndon Atkinson (34), Stephanie Oldfield (25) and Lewis Roberts (20), were involved in a violent incident at The Montague Arms public House in Mexborough in which they used weapons including bottles, pool balls and golf clubs to damage the premise and cause fear and violence.

The third incident involved Luke Blakemore, Roddis, Ryan Taylor (23) and Shaun Chamberlain, 30, who were all charged with a robbery they committed on September 10 last year.

They followed a man, not known to them, to his home address in Mexborough and forced him to hand over his car keys and log book, threatening him with violence from the gang if he did not comply, and then stole his car.

Gilliver was also charged with witness intimidation in connection to the incident.

The sentences are as follows:

 

  • Luke Blakemore,  of Laburnun Road, Mexborough, 13-years and 6 months for robbery and three counts of possession with intent to supply class A drugs.
  • Chad Hatton, of Schofield Street, Mexborough, 4-years and 6-months for possession with intent to supply class A drugs.
  • John Gilliver, of Schofield Street, 3-years and 8-months for violent disorder and witness intimidation.
  • Joshua Roddis, of Schofield Street, 3-years and 6-months for robbery and violent disorder.
  • Ryan Taylor, of Schofield Street, Mexborough, 2-years and 6-months for robbery.
  • Kieran Blakemore, of Schofield Street, 9-months suspended for 18-months for possession of a class B drug.
  • Stephanie Oldfield, of Schofield Street, 4-months suspended for 24-months for violent disorder.
  • Lewis Roberts of Hawthorne Crescent, Mexborough, 4-months suspended for 12-months for violent disorder
  • Lyndon, Atkinson of Hunger Hill Road, Whiston, 3-months suspended for 12-months for violent disorder.
  • The tenth man, Chamberlain of Cumberland way in Bolton-on-Dearne, charged with the robbery failed to appear at court. He was found guilty and sentenced to 4 years in his absence.

Doncaster chief insp Gwyn Thomas said: “Chamberlain is a wanted man and it has been made very clear in court that when we arrest him, and we will, an additional sentence will be handed to him, on top of the four years, for failing to appear. 

“All of those sentenced, with the exception of Roberts, have also been served with criminal behaviour orders for three years, meaning they must not associate with each other during this time period or they could potentially face further prison sentences.

“I hope this sends a strong and clear message to anyone involved in criminality, or who is thinking about making the reckless decision and becoming involved, to think again, as we will not tolerate it and we will always relentlessly pursue anyone who breaks the law and is a blight on the community.”

Chief Insp Thomas added: “This result is great news and I am very pleased, more so for the residents in Mexborough who have had to endure these individuals and their violent and abhorrent behaviour in the town.

“They brought absolute misery to the community, and I can only hope this offers some reassurance to the public, and highlights how determined and committed we are to bring anyone involved in criminality to justice.

“I want to reassure our Mexborough residents however, that as pleased as we are with this result, we will be continuing our efforts in the town, deploying extra patrols and providing a high visibility police presence in the area, as well as conducting various operations over the coming months.”

 

Pictured, top row, left to right – Joshua Roddis, John Gilliver, Ryan Taylor

Middle row, left to right – Chad Hatton, Luke Blakemore, Shaun Chamberlain

Bottom row, left to right – Stephanie Oldfield, Kieran Blakemore, Lyndon Atkinson