An 11-strong crime ring that targeted lorries and distribution yards across the country, stealing nearly £500,000 worth of goods, has been convicted at Liverpool Crown Court. A collaboration between Merseyside, Lancashire and Cheshire Police and the regional intelligence unit, under the name Operation Ferula, led to Francis Oakford being jailed for four and a half years last week.
Four more ring members received sentences of between two and four years, while others received suspended sentences and cautions.
Detective Inspector Steve Marr says property was recovered from all over the country, after goods from brands such as Laura Ashley, Babyliss, Heinz and Revlon were stolen from HGVs and regional distribution centres (RDCs) between September 2006 and August 2007. On one occasion the thieves used an HGV driver to help break into company premises and steal a tractor unit and trailer full of goods.
He adds that the group was organised and professional, and employed a high degree of planning to attack the depots in Hull, Avon and Somerset, Warwickshire, Oxfordshire and North Wales.
Marr concludes: "It has been a long operation but a successful one. We have had some great sentences today we were very pleased with them. The judge said how well organised and professional the crime team was. You can see the extent of the network it was a national thing."
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