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Burger bar boast gang locked up - PICTURES
A GANG who robbed a McDonald's and a newsagent's shop in South Yorkshire on the same night were arrested after boasting about their crimes in a burger bar in Skegness.
The four were caught after startled customers in another McDonald's at the resort heard three of them talk about threatening victims with hammers and stealing more than 2,000.
Prolific criminal Tom Bishop, aged 28, Craig Howell, 20, and Benjamin McIntyre, 19, all from Thurnscoe, and Nathan Morris, 19, of Goldthorpe, were jailed for a total of 17 years.
They pleaded guilty to the two robberies, a burglary and a car theft in a crime spree on April 7.
Sheffield Crown Court heard the balaclava-clad gang armed themselves with hammers and burst into GT News on Station Street, Swinton.
Petrified staff opened two tills and the men got away with 700, cigarettes and booze.
An hour later, at 11.10pm, they struck at McDonald's, on Cortonwood Drive, Brampton, threatening the manager and his deputy with claw hammers and demanding they open the safe.
Prosecutor David Webster said they got away with 2,000 cash. Two staff locked themselves in the toilet.
The gang admitted stealing a Renault Megane earlier that night after breaking into a house in South Elmsall to steal keys, Mr Webster added.
Thewomene owner shouted at the masked men on her drive but fled when they threatened her.
After the raids the men persuaded two young friends to visit banks the next day to exchange the coins for notes.
All except Morris then drove to Skegness, checked into the Savoy Hotel and went to McDonald's, where they were heard boasting. The four were also nailed by DNA evidence, the court heard.
Mr Webster said Craig Howell told police they had committed their crimes because of drugs.
Bishop, of Hanover Street, Thurnscoe, pleaded guilty to a carjacking five days earlier.
Mr Webster said he and an accomplice threatened three women returning to their vehicle in Waterdale car park after shopping in Doncaster.
The terrified trio, two sisters and their elderly mum, were ordered out, and the masked pair drove off. The second man has never been identified, the court heard.
Judge Simon Lawler QC said: "The victims were absolutely petrified and the mental damage has been substantial. If there was ever a case where sentences for public protection were necessary, this must be it."
Bishop and Howell were given indeterminate sentences for public protection - with Bishop to be considered for parole after four-and-a-half years and Howell after three-and-a-half years.
McIntyre was given five years' custody and Morris received four years.
Richard Barraddell, defending Bishop, said he had a record of 50 offences including GBH and burglary with 39 of them were for car crime.
Michael Upson, defending Howell, of Tudor Street, Thurnscoe, said his probation officer found he had 'poor thinking skills.'
After sentencing acting Det Sgt John Yoxall, of Rotherham CID, said: "This gang has caused fear and distress to many innocent people."
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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