Five Men Jailed for £800,000 Coventry Vehicle Theft Spree

A gang who boasted and posed with the high-value vehicles they stole have now been imprisoned.A gang who boasted and posed with the high-value vehicles they stole have now been imprisoned.A gang who boasted and posed with the high-value vehicles they stole have now been imprisoned.

By Jason KingBy Jason King

Five menFive menwho stole nearly£1 million worth of vehicles in Coventry£1 million worth of vehicles in Coventryhave been jailed after a major police investigation.

The gang—Jason O’Farrell, Deacon Cumberbatch, Tyrone Henn, Kian O’Shea, and Keegan JudgeJason O’Farrell, Deacon Cumberbatch, Tyrone Henn, Kian O’Shea, and Keegan Judge—targetedcars, motorcycles, motorhomes, and luxury SUVscars, motorcycles, motorhomes, and luxury SUVsacross the city between2022 and 20232022 and 2023. They flaunted their crimes onsocial mediasocial media, posting footage ofstolen vehiclesstolen vehiclesand boasting about their offences.

Detectives fromCoventry’s Local Policing AreaCoventry’s Local Policing Areaspent months combing throughphone footage and hundreds of incriminating messagesphone footage and hundreds of incriminating messagesexchanged between the gang. Their evidence uncovered a sophisticated operation involving47 separate offences47 separate offences, includingcar key burglaries and violent car-jackingscar key burglaries and violent car-jackings.

•Tyrone HennTyrone Henn, 23, of Everdon Road –10 years, 6 months in jail10 years, 6 months in jail, 12-yeardriving bandriving ban

•Jason O’FarrellJason O’Farrell, 20, of no fixed address –10 years, 5 months in jail10 years, 5 months in jail, 14-yeardriving bandriving ban

•Deacon CumberbatchDeacon Cumberbatch, 19, of Riley Square –6 years, 9 months in jail6 years, 9 months in jail, 10-yeardriving bandriving ban

•Keegan JudgeKeegan Judge, 18, of Nuneaton –4 years, 5 months in jail4 years, 5 months in jail, 9-yeardriving bandriving ban

•Kian O’SheaKian O’Shea, 19, of Milverton Road –3 years, 9 months in jail3 years, 9 months in jail, 8-yeardriving bandriving ban

Investigators foundmessagesmessagesshowingHennHenncomplaining aboutprofits from the theftsprofits from the thefts, at one point lamenting that a£2,000 haul£2,000 haulleft him with only£400£400after being split among the gang. The group even contactedsome of their victimssome of their victims, attempting tosell stolen vehicles back to themsell stolen vehicles back to them.

O’Farrell, O’Shea, and Judge pleaded guiltyO’Farrell, O’Shea, and Judge pleaded guiltyon thesecond day of their trialsecond day of their trial.Cumberbatch initially denied involvementCumberbatch initially denied involvementbut laterchanged his plea to guiltychanged his plea to guilty.Henn maintained his innocenceHenn maintained his innocencebut wasconvicted at Leamington Crown Court on 12 Februaryconvicted at Leamington Crown Court on 12 February.

So far,police have recovered 24 stolen vehiclespolice have recovered 24 stolen vehicles.

Chief Superintendent Paul DroverChief Superintendent Paul Drover, ofCoventry PoliceCoventry PoliceCoventry Police, said the gang had been amongthe city’s most wanted criminalsthe city’s most wanted criminals.

“Thethefts, burglaries, and car-jackingsthefts, burglaries, and car-jackingsthis group carried out had adevastating impact on the victimsdevastating impact on the victims, not just financially, but mentally. During the investigation, we saw howbrazen they all werebrazen they all wereand theircasual attitude towards offendingcasual attitude towards offending.”

Drover praised theofficersofficerswho worked on the case, calling it“one of the most extensive investigations”“one of the most extensive investigations”the force had undertaken.

“Taking thesefive prolific offendersfive prolific offendersoff the streets will send out astrong messagestrong messageabout how seriously we takevehicle crimevehicle crime.”

ACCESS TO THE LAW: Understanding the Crime and SentencingACCESS TO THE LAW: Understanding the Crime and Sentencing

As part of our campaign to improve citizens’ access and understanding of UK Criminal law, we will be explaining the relevant UK legislation surrounding any case law relevant to our articles:As part of our campaign to improve citizens’ access and understanding of UK Criminal law, we will be explaining the relevant UK legislation surrounding any case law relevant to our articles:

ACCESS TO THE LAW: Sentencing for Vehicle Theft and Car-JackingACCESS TO THE LAW: Sentencing for Vehicle Theft and Car-Jacking

As part of our campaign to improve citizens’ access to and understanding of UKcriminal lawcriminal law, we will be explaining the relevant legislation behind key offences in our reports.

The theft of vehicles, particularly through burglary or force, is a serious offence underSection 12 of the Theft Act 1968Section 12 of the Theft Act 1968andSection 8 of the same ActSection 8 of the same Act, which covers robbery and car-jacking when violence or threats are used.

•Theft of a motor vehicleTheft of a motor vehiclecarries amaximum penalty of seven years in prisonmaximum penalty of seven years in prison. If a vehicle is taken without consent but later recovered, this is often prosecuted asTaking Without Owner’s Consent (TWOC)Taking Without Owner’s Consent (TWOC), which carries a lower sentence.

•Burglary to steal car keysBurglary to steal car keysis prosecuted underSection 9 of the Theft Act 1968Section 9 of the Theft Act 1968and can result inup to 14 years in prisonup to 14 years in prisonif committed in a dwelling.

•Car-jackingCar-jacking, involving violence or threats, falls underrobberyrobbery, which carries amaximum life sentencemaximum life sentence, though sentencing depends on the severity of the crime.

TheSentencing CouncilSentencing Councilconsiders factors such asthe use of violence, premeditation, and financial harm to victimsthe use of violence, premeditation, and financial harm to victimswhen determining punishment. Courts imposedriving bansdriving banson offenders to prevent reoffending, as seen in this case, where the gang received bans ranging fromeight to 14 yearseight to 14 years.

This case demonstrates how courts deal with organised vehicle theft and the severe sentences imposed on those who steal cars through burglary and intimidation.

Well, that’s all for now. But until our next article, please stay tuned, stay informed, but most of all stay safe, and I’ll see you then.Well, that’s all for now. But until our next article, please stay tuned, stay informed, but most of all stay safe, and I’ll see you then.

Jason KingJason King

Birmingham City-DeskBirmingham City-Desk

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