Gang behind dozens of burglaries jailed

A TEENAGER from Rotherham has been jailed for his role with a gang behind dozens of house burglaries across Sheffield.

Police said the group’s three-month crime spree had caused a noticeable spike in the crime statistics in early 2018.

Jack Wright was sentenced alongside four other men at Sheffield Crown Court on Friday after they each admitted conspiracy to commit burglary.

The 19-year-old, formerly of Nursery Drive, Rotherham, was jailed for four years for his role.

Daniel Fenwick (28), formerly of Spring Close View, Sheffield, also admitted possession of an imitation firearm and was sentenced to nine years and four months in prison.

AJ Ford (18) and Joseph Lawrenson (19), both formerly of Stovin Drive, Sheffield, were jailed for nine years each, with Lawrenson receiving an extra four months to run consecutively for breaching an order.

Bradley Watson (22), formerly of Greenwood Avenue, Sheffield, was given a four-year sentence, plus an extra 12 weeks consecutively for breaching an order.

Det Con Philip Dean said: “These five men conspired together to commit a significant number of burglaries and other criminality in our region and I am pleased that they have been sent to prison.

“Their crimes were organised and co-ordinated, with the group admitting responsibility for a conspiracy involving over 40 offences before the courts.

“We had experienced a spike in residential burglaries across the city in early 2018 and there were alarming similarities across many of the reports, including clothing worn and the descriptions given of the suspects.”

Descriptions of suspects, the times of offences and the offenders’ methods of searching properties also showed patterns, the court heard.

Det Con Dean said the gang’s spree came to an end thanks to painstaking police work, including scouring CCTV footage, recovering forensic evidence and examining clothes.

He added: “Such was the evidence gathered throughout our inquiry that they have pleaded guilty to their crimes.

“I hope all the victims affected by the actions of these five individuals are reassured that they are now behind bars and can cause no further harm to the public of South Yorkshire.”

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