CCTV footage of terrifying cash-in-transit robbery ­— and the car crash in Ramsbottom which helped police track down the gang

Now the six-strong criminal gang ­— one which included a security guard who acted as the 'inside man' ­— has been jailed after making off with more than £160,000 in violent cash-in-transit robberies targeting banks in Walkden and Ramsbottom.

They were jailed for a combined total of more than 75-years for conspiracy to commit armed robbery after stealing £168,000.

The five from Little Hulton and the security guard were caught as a result of Operation Riptide a police investigation into a number of ATM robberies in Greater Manchester between September 2017 and April 2018.

The gang carried out an armed robbery at Santander Bank in Walkden on Thursday, September 7, 2017 at 1.10am. G4S employee, Thomas Keane, was restocking the ATM at the bank with his colleague when they were approached by three masked men and threatened with a sawn off shotgun, a handgun and a machete. The guards were forced to the floor, and the men made off with the stolen cash

Keane, the cash courier at first appeared to be a victim of the robbery but it emerged he had played a key role in the conspiracy by supplying information regarding cash delivery times and locations ­— and received a cut of the stolen cash.

The conspiracy began to unravel in the moments after the offenders robbed a cash-in-transit vehicle outside the Santander bank in Ramsbottom on April 3 last year.

The driver of the getaway car lost control fleeing the scene. The stolen red Ford Focus collided with a Range Rover and into parked cars on Bolton Street West.

The airbags were deployed on the getaway car, and the offenders were forced to flee on foot.

The men were seen by witnesses running from the vehicle, carrying the stolen cash cassettes. Two of the offenders were seen hiding under a parked car and, following forensic testing by police, fingerprints on this vehicle were identified as belonging to Lucas Dodd and David Oxton.

The remainder of the group, Jack Pennington, Neil Callaghan and Scott Holmes, were identified by CCTV footage seized from the robberies, witness accounts, vehicle enquiries and evidence gathered from phone records.

Following analysis of phone records, it was shown that Keane was in regular and significant phone contact with the criminal gang, including on the days the armed robberies took place.

Detective Sergeant Rick Castley, from GMP’s Serious Organised Crime Group, said: “The lengthy sentences handed down today reflect the very serious nature of the crimes committed by this group.

“The robberies were particularly violent in nature, and the men gave no thought to the honest and hard-working security guards and bank staff who were caught up in the incidents.

“The robberies were pre-planned and carefully considered, but they were clumsily executed and the gang left a trail of evidence linking them to the robberies.

“Keane abused his position of trust at G4S and lined his pockets through deceit, but now he must face the next 20 years in jail facing the consequences of his actions.

“During this investigation we worked closely with G4S and they have been incredibly helpful in assisting with our enquiries throughout.

“Today’s result is thanks to the efforts of our officers who carried out extensive enquiries and sifted through huge amounts of mobile phone data and records to gather the damning evidence which has secured the prosecutions and taken this group of dangerous men off the streets.”

Sarah Staff, Head of SaferCash, British Security Industry Association said: “Throughout this case SaferCash worked in partnership with the investigation team and G4S and the outcome of this case highlights the benefits of collaboration.

“The level of violence being used in the execution of these crimes has a far reaching effect for the guards involved.

“The comprehensive investigation run by GMP Serious Organised Crime Group has dismantled a well organised gang and the high sentencing reflects the serious nature of this conspiracy.

“The industry strongly believes that the length of sentencing will act as a deterrent to put a halt to these types of attacks.”

Keane, 52, of Green Lane, Leigh was sentenced to 20 years, Pennington, 28, of Kenyon Way, Little Hulton was sentenced to 14 years for conspiracy to commit robbery and Oxton, 34, of Longshaw Drive, Little Hulton was sentenced to 14 years ­— all three for conspiracy to commit robbery.

Callaghan, 35, of New Lester Way, Little Hulton was sentenced to 12 and a half years for conspiracy to commit robbery and given a further 12 months for an unrelated blackmail offence. Holmes, 32, of Cleggs Lane, Little Hulton has been sentenced to 10 and a half years in prison for conspiracy to commit robbery. Dodd, 19, of Dovecote Lane, Little Hulton was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for conspiracy to commit robbery.