3-man killer van gang jailed
Three robbers have been convicted after the death of an innocent grandad during their getaway
Three members of a Manchester criminal gang who targeted high-value vehicles have been jailed for the needless'' death of a grandfather who died from head injuries after his van was stolen.
It is thought James Ray was inside his Transit vehicle at the time and was ejected from the side door as the raiders sped off from an industrial estate in Ashton-under-Lyne last November.
Mr Ray, who was delivering a tonne of detergent from his family business to the premises, died in hospital in the early hours of the following day, November 13 last year, which was his 70th birthday.
Manchester Crown Court heard that family and friends had a weekend of celebrations planned for him but his daughter said that instead they were confronted with his needless and pointless death''.
His wife of 50 years and childhood sweetheart'', Vivien, now faced the rest of her lifewithout the man who adored her'', the court was told
Judge Patrick Field QC said the victim was a man who worked hard for a living - unlike those who killed him he did not prey on others, stealing their vehicles''.
He told the defendants: What appeared to be his last recorded words were during a conversation with a workmate when he said he was looking forward to celebrating his 70th birthday going out for a drink with friends. He never got to enjoy that celebration.
His life was taken away senselessly and needlessly as a consequence of your reckless theft of his van.''
Mark Ward Jnr, 25, of Rochdale, was convicted by a jury of Mr Ray's manslaughter, while Patrick McDonagh, 20, of Milnrow, and Patrick Cawley, 22, of Chadderton, pleaded guilty to the same offence at earlier hearings.
Judge Field said there was no direct evidence as to what role each played but all three were engaged in a joint enterprise as part of a team that committed a series of frankly audacious'' thefts in the North West from between July and November last year.
Expensive cars and vans, together with power tools and surveillance equipment, totalling about #220,000 were stolen in well-organised, ruthless executed'' raids.
Mr Ray's van was abandoned shortly after it was stolen from the Plantation Industrial Estate on November 12 last year.
The court heard it was accepted none of the defendants knew Mr Ray was inside the van when they drove off but must have known an accident had happened as the side door of the van was torn from its hinges.
Three other men, including Ward's father, Mark Ward Snr, 45, were also part of the same gang, although none were present during the raid on Mr Ray's van.
Judge Field said the father and son were career criminals who were effectively running a family business and played leading roles in the gang.
In a victim personal statement read to the court, Mr Ray's daughter, Catherine Walker said the family's world had utterly collapsed'' following the death of her father who was looking forward to retirement.
She said: The circumstances and nature of my dad's death has been devastating and caused excruciating pain to myself and my whole family,
We were looking forward to a weekend of celebrating his 70th birthday. Instead we found ourselves dealing with his needless and pointless death
My dad's wide cricle of friends, of which he had many, loved him very dearly. He was a big part of his local community. They miss him almost as much as we do.
My gorgeous mum, she now faces the rest of her life without the man who adored her, the man who would do absolutely anything for her. Her and my dad were childhood sweethearts.
My dad was without doubt the backbone of the family. We miss him deeply but he should be here with us...how do we start to make any sense of this?''
Ward Jnr, of Royd Street, was jailed for a total of 13 years after he received an eight-year sentence for manslaughter and five years for conspiracy to steal.
McDonagh, of The Cray, was imprisoned for a total of eight years and four months for manslaughter, conspiracy to steal and breaching a previous suspended sentence.
Cawley, of Orchard Crescent, received a seven-year jail sentence for manslaughter and an additional three months for a separate burglary. He was given an eight-month concurrent sentence for conspiracy to steal.
All three men received 18-month jail terms, to run concurrently, for aggravated vehicle taking.
Ward Snr, of Claybank Street, Heywood, was jailed for five years after he was convicted of conspiracy to steal.
Leslie Simpson, 39, of Daventry Road, Rochdale, and Faisal Hussain, 23, of Ansdell Road, Rochdale, pleaded guilty to the above offence.
Simpson received a 15-month jail term, suspended for two years, and was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.
Hussain, was given a 14-month sentence, also suspended for two years, and told to perform 180 hours of unpaid work.
PL