A member of a ‘smash and grab’ gang that targeted ATMs across the Home Counties has been found guilty of conspiracy to burgle.
Paul Smith, 30, had denied being a part of the James ‘Jimmy’ Sheen’s firm that ripped cash machines from shops in spring and early summer in 2020 during overnight raids launched from the gang's bases in Oxfordshire.
But after two days of deliberations, jurors at Oxford Crown Court found him guilty of conspiracy to burgle, attempted theft of a 4x4 and use of a stolen car.
The jury could not reach a verdict on an allegation he broke into the National Horseracing Museum in Newmarket on May 8, 2020. Judge Michael Gledhill QC formally recorded a not guilty verdict to the burglary charge after the junior prosecution barrister Robert Forrest said they would not seek a re-trial and offered no evidence.
In all, six men – including ringleader Sheen – are due to be sentenced for their involvement in the gang’s reign of destruction. The group initially piped gas into ATMs, blowing them up in order to free the cash casettes inside - then later moved on to use tow ropes to drag the cash machines from shops.
Smith was remanded into custody to await sentence.
He is currently serving a five year prison sentence for conspiracy to commit a burglary at the Swan Antiques Centre in Tetsworth, unmasked when he was one of five thieves in a Mercedes that crashed near Bicester on June 10, 2020, leaving backseat passenger Rocky Broadway dead.
Bang for buck
During the four week trial, jurors heard that the gang earned an early success that saw them make off with £74,000 from a Co-op in Leavesden, near Watford, on June 13, 2019.
The group, led by James ‘Jimmy’ Sheen, 37, were said to have found the technique of blowing up the cash machines less than effective.
They changed tack, prosecutor Barry McElduff said, using 4x4s to pull the ATMs from the shops.
The ATM in the wake of the raid on the Co-op, Leavesden in June 2019 Picture: WATFORD OBSERVER/NQ
Jimmy Loveridge and Smith, both 30, were recruited after Shane Harris, 32, was arrested at an M5 service station with a stolen car packed with the burglar’s tools of the trade.
Smith was involved in two such heists: in Charvill, near Reading, on April 29, and in Bletchingdon on May 11.
Three of the men Sheen, ‘trusted lieutenant’ David Riley, 26, and 30-year-old Jimmy Loveridge, broke into the National Horseracing Museum in May and snatched antique race trophies.
At the time, the museum put up a £50,000 reward for information. According to reports, among the items taken were the Ascot Gold Vase, two Lincoln Races trophies and three Doncaster Cups.
On May 14, a passing police officer allegedly interrupted members of the gang trying to steal a Toyota Landcruiser, which prosecutors claimed would have been used in the ATM ‘grab’ raids, from a driveway in Horndean, near Portsmouth.
The Co-op in Bletchingdon, Oxfordshire, after an attempted ATM theft on May 11, 2020 Picture: OM
The gang, driving a stolen BMW, managed to slip away from the police after a chase through Waterlooville.
Within days, the gang moved on to the final phase of the year-long conspiracy, which saw them steal half a million pounds’ worth of farm machinery.
Convictions welcomed
Det Ch Insp Aidan Donohoe, the senior investigating officer, welcomed the convictions.
He said on the steps of the court on Friday afternoon: “It brings to a conclusion 21 months of really hard work by a combined team from the Cherwell and West local policing area, the priority crime and CID teams but also our colleagues from our Force Intelligence Bureau.
“We’ve had incredible support from both lead and junior counsel in this case and I’m delighted the jury has come back with verdicts
“Since the operation took place and those responsible were placed in custody prior to this trial, we’ve had a significant reduction in attacks on ATMs and cash machines.
“The offences they committed were some of the most serious, including offences under the Explosives Act.”
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