FIVE men involved in attacks on cash machines including one in Ludlow have been jailed.

It’s believed the group made more than £1,000,000 and caused more than £200,000 worth of damage after they attacked ATMs between June 2017 and September 2018.

The group used specialist cutting equipment, stolen from fire stations, to force entry into stores and attack the cash machines.

Jail sentences come after an investigation led by West Mercia Police’s Serious and Organised Crime Unit and involving other forces.

Detective Chief Inspector Gavin Kinrade was the senior investigating officer.

He said: “The offenders were part of an organised crime group responsible for a string of ATM attacks across the UK which netted them a considerable amount of cash. The gang were motivated by greed and gave no consideration to the damage and destruction they left behind.

“These crimes had a huge impact on the local community with many of the cash machines the group targeted the only source of withdrawing cash for people in the area, some of which haven’t been replaced. Not only that the group were prepared to use violence to commit the offences and stole vital specialist life-saving equipment from fire stations with total disregard to the public.

“This was a complex and challenging investigation and I would like to congratulate my team for bringing the matter to a successful conclusion. I would also like to thank colleagues at the other police forces.”

The group committed their offences in ten police force areas including: West Mercia, Staffordshire, Avon and Somerset, Wiltshire, Hampshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, Thames Valley, Gloucestershire and Derbyshire.

The men were sentenced at Shrewsbury Crown Court after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to burgle and converting criminal property. Khan also pleaded guilty to possession of criminal property.

Michael Solomon Stubbs, 32, of Asheridge Close, Wednesfield, has been sentenced to 6 years 8 months.

Noel Anthony Reilly, 39 of Wychall Lane, Birmingham, has been sentenced to 7 years 6 months

Martin Steadman, 24 of Luce Road, Low Hill, Wolverhampton has been sentenced to 7 years 6 months.

Mohammed Maneer Khan, 31 of Great Hampton Street, Whitmore Reans, Wolverhampton has been sentenced to 4 years 10 months.

Marcus Burton, 33 of May Farm Close, Hollywood, Birmingham, has been sentenced to 5 years 10 months.

Serious Crime Prevention orders were also granted against Steadman, Stubbs, Reilly and Burton. These will place a number of restrictions on the defendants when they are released from prison and are designed to protect the public.