Three men jailed over armed robbery spree

BEN CLANCY

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THREE men have been jailed for more than 21 years for armed robberies in Tameside.

Ben Clancy, 23, of Brierly Avenue, Failsworth, was handed an eight-year sentence at Minshull Street Crown Court after pleading guilty to two counts of robbery, taking a vehicle without the owner's consent and possessing an imitation firearm.

Jack Lloyd, 21, of Marple Road, Chisworth, was sentenced to nine years after pleading guilty to two counts of robbery, possessing an imitation firearm and taking a vehicle without the owner's consent.

Steven Reeves, 27, of Mountbatten Avenue, Dukinfield, was also given four years and nine months on Friday, September 23, after admitting to one count of robbery.

The court heard how Lloyd and Reeves carried out a robbery at a petrol station on Stockport Road, Hattersley, shortly after 6.45pm on Sunday, January 10.

They pulled up at a lay-by across the road, where Clancy waited as the getaway driver, before donning balaclavas and entering the garage.

Once inside, the pair, armed with a machete and sledgehammer between them, then threatened a member of staff before hundreds of pounds were taken from two tills.

Just two days later, Lloyd and Clancy carried out a separate robbery at a bank on Warrington Street in Ashton at about 9.30am.

A cash-in-transit driver pulled up outside the bank and was in the process of collecting money when Lloyd, wearing a balaclava and brandishing a handgun, stormed into the bank .

He pointed the gun directly at the driver and told him to drop the cash box.

The victim dropped the box and Lloyd picked it up before running off to a getaway car parked nearby.

Officers acted on intelligence and tracked the car to Glossop, where a foot chase took place and all three men were apprehended.

Recovered

Items including the defendant's phones, the stolen cash box, the getaway car and the imitation gun were all recovered.

Detective Sergeant Karen Ryan, from GMP's Serious and Organised Crime Group, said: "These three men thought they were above the law and their greed ending up getting the better of them.

"They frightened innocent people and a police dog handler was seriously injured after falling down a ravine and losing consciousness during the foot chase.

"They will now have to face the consequences of their actions and I welcome the sentence handed to them today."