Vigilance can confirm that nine members of an organised crime network, suspected of stealing £2million-worth of vehicles, have been jailed at Kingston Crown Court after an investigation by the Metropolitan Police Service’s South West Area Crime Squad.
Met sources said in October 2010, officers initially identified a linked series of vehicle burglaries being committed in Kingston and Surrey by a team of four suspects.
It was said further investigation identified up to 70 offences across south-west London and Surrey being committed by a gang consisting of in excess of 10 members, and with the value of vehicles being stolen estimated at over £2 million.
According to the Met sources a series of dawn raids followed in December 2010, resulting in a number of arrests and subsequent charges.
Details of the sentences
The members of the network who were sentenced on 5 July are:
Sam Walton, 25 ( 19/09/85), of Windrush, New Malden, pleaded guilty to 3 burglaries and 1 count of handling stolen goods (vehicle) and received 3yrs imprisonment
Craig Mills, 20 (25/02/91), of Norbiton Common Road, Kingston pleaded guilty to 3 burglaries and 1 count of HSG (vehicle) and received 3yrs imprisonment
Rico Persechino, 22 (01/04/89), of Cotsford Avenue, New Malden pleaded guilty to 3 burglaries and 1 count of HSG (vehicle ) and received 2yrs 8 months imprisonment
Daniel Axeworthy, 22 (11/10/88 ), of Acacia Grove, New Malden pleaded guilty to 3 burglaries and 1 count of HSG (vehicle) and received 3yrs 3 months imprisonment
Harry MacKay, 21 ( 27/04/90), of Queens Road, Thames Ditton, Surrey pleaded guilty to 1 burglary and received 18 months imprisonment
Jordan Brogden, 20 (25/08/90), of no fixed abode pleaded guilty to 1 burglary and received 2yrs imprisonment
A 17-year-old from Kingston pleaded guilty to HSG (3 vehicles) and received a 3-month supervision order and 200 hours Community Service.
Oliver Pendry, 20 (23/11/90), of Acacia Grove New Malden pleaded guilty to HSG (vehicle) and received 2yrs 3 months years imprisonment.
A 17-year-old from Kingston pleaded guilty to 1 Burglary and Aggravated Vehicle Taking and received 2yrs 9 months imprisonment.
+ In addition, Glody Salumu, 18 ( 06/03/93), of Langley Road, Surbiton pleaded guilty to 1 Burglary, 1 Attempted Burglary and 1 HSG (vehicle) and will be sentenced on 18 July.
Detective Inspector John Harnwell, of the South West Area Crime Squad, said: "The convictions illustrate the Metropolitan Police Service's determination to disrupt organised crime. Officers worked tirelessly during this investigation - this included analysing over 85,000 phone calls to bring the culprits to justice. As a result, nine career criminals have been taken off the streets and are facing a considerable amount of time behind bars."
Whilst Detective Superintendant Fran Smith, South West Area, said: "This operation demonstrates the effectiveness of boroughs working flexibly together to bring about the conviction of organised criminals, in a way that would be beyond the capability of a single borough. Without doubt this has been a successful operation and our communities are safer as a consequence"
Worth mentioning is the commendation of two officers by the trial judge, in particular, Detective Sergeants Chris Grant and Bob Dolce, for their outstanding work in leading this complex case.