Gang jailed for trophy ram raid on Red Bull F1 HQ

13 November 2015 05:46

Four men have been jailed for a string of ram raids, including on the headquarters of the Red Bull Racing Formula One team.

Dramatic CCTV footage released by police shows the gang reversing through the front doors of the Red Bull offices in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, before smashing their way into the trophy cabinets.

Other CCTV shows them driving around a Mercedes-Benz dealership in Weybridge, Surrey, as well as forcing their way into a convenience store in Shinfield, Berkshire, and towing away an ATM.

They are also shown ramming their vehicle into another store in Twyford, Berkshire.

The gang pleaded guilty at Guildford Crown Court to theft in connection with a £1million crime spree across the south-east which left an estimated £350,000 worth of damage.

Detective Constable Matt Earl, who led the investigation, said: "These men put others and themselves at risk in their chaotic and quite frankly dangerous attempts to access cash machines.

"They are incredibly fortunate not to have seriously injured members of the public who lived near to some of the cash machines, or next to a petrol station where they attempted to blow up one of the ATMs.

"They have showed absolutely no remorse and have now deservedly been brought to justice for causing thousands of pounds worth of damage to family-run businesses through their reckless actions. They have ultimately paid the price because of their greed."

Danny Stevens, 38, of Hayden Place, Yateley, Hampshire, was jailed for seven years while Paul Smith, 24, of Shurlock Road, Sherlock Row, Berkshire, was sentenced to six years for his involvement in nine of the burglaries.

Jason Eastwood, 41, of Willow Crescent, Farnborough, Hampshire, received three years and four months after admitting being a conspirator and being involved in the last four offences.

Luke Cole, 24, of Stockbridge Lane, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, was imprisoned for two years for his part in the Co-op burglary in Shinfield.

Some of the Red Bull trophies were later recovered from Horseshoe Lake in Yateley.

Source: PA