Stockport gang sentenced
Brinnington five handed jail terms.
A notorious Stockport gang who preyed upon the Brinnington community, using violence and intimidation to threaten local residents, have finally been brought to justice and sentenced to more than 28 years in prison. Members of this organised criminal gang were responsible for a string of violent home invasions and assaults, during which homeowners were either threatened or attacked with weapons. Seven members of the gang have now been sentenced on Friday 15 January 2016 for their various roles in the gang's criminal spree, thanks to an investigation by officers attached to Greater Manchester Police’s Operation Ardenne. The gang were involved in targeting those who they believed were responsible for growing cannabis so they could steal the drugs - known as 'taxing' among criminals - although in these instances they hit the homes of innocent members of the community due to cases of mistaken identity. Among the offences were incidents where a man sustained a fracture and a deep cut to his left arm as a result of being attacked for a £20.00 drug debt by an armed mob who struck him with a machete at his front door as his partner and children hid in fear behind him, a young mother and her two-year-old daughter were at home when they were subjected to an aggravated burglary and a woman who was 25 weeks pregnant was threatened in her own home on three separate occasions over a 24 hour period. Detective Constable Gareth Taylor, the officer in charge of the case said: "In varying degrees, members of this gang were responsible for a string of violent and intimidating incidents that left people living and working in the Brinnington area terrified. "This gang thought they could rule Brinnington with an iron fist. They mistakenly thought it was their ‘turf’ and they could act with impunity, and we know from speaking to residents in Brinnington the daily fear with which people lived as a result of this gang. "I hope these convictions send out a powerful message to the people of Brinnington that we will not allow organised criminal gangs to laud it over innocent, law-abiding people and by dismantling this group it is a huge stride forward towards giving back this community to the honest people who live and work here. I want to pay tribute to all those who have provided witness testimonies and shown great bravery to stand up and give evidence against this group of thugs who have acted in such a cowardly manner.” Inspector Scott Winters, Neighbourhood Inspector for Stockport North which covers Brinnington, said: “I want to reassure people that we will respond to their complaints about violence and drug-dealing, and we will work very closely with our partner agencies to look at every possible means to disrupt these criminal elements. "Working in partnership allows us to target organised criminals from every angle. For example, if you take away people’s illegal benefits, if you can take away their cars because they are not taxed, if you take away their drugs, then you are taking away the foundations on which they base their 'power' until they crumble. "I promise the people of Stockport we will continue to attack these criminals, reduce crime in the area and I would encourage anyone who is a victim or who has information about these sorts of criminals to come forward, speak to us, and we will give you support and protection and bring these people to justice." Anyone with any information about crime in their area can contact their local policing team, or speak to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.