Four men jailed for 77 years after cash-in-transit robberies in Greater Manchester and Derbyshire

Four men have been jailed for a total of 77 years after a series of cash-in-transit robberies in Greater Manchester and Derbyshire, including two incidents in Rochdale.

The sentence follows a dedicated operation carried out by GMP’s Serious and Organised Group – codenamed Mowbray. The investigation was launched after 10 armed robberies occurred across Greater Manchester and Derbyshire, which occurred in just over a five-week period between November 2018 to January 2019.

On 26 November 2018, they attempted to rob a store on Yorkshire Street, Rochdale, before striking again at a local supermarket on 10 December.

Detectives investigating the offences noticed the striking similarities between the offences – such as attacking staff with hammers, before putting an abrupt stop to their offending on Thursday 31 January 2019.

This arrest came as the men came from an armed robbery at a bank in Halifax, West Yorkshire. During this robbery, the men stuck to their tried and tested tactics and approached the guard as he was making a delivery of cash at the bank. They attacked the guard with hammers and fled with cash in a car bearing false registration plates. This would be their downfall as, just 10 minutes later, police officers sighted the offending vehicle. In attempt to evade arrest, the car crashed into a bridge. The men were then detained.

During the ten robberies, the gang stole approximately £87,500 in the lead up to their arrest.

The following men were sentenced at Manchester Crown Court on Friday 17 January 2020 –

Sajjad Hussain, 28, of Salford, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison after being found guilty of conspiracy to commit robbery after a trial.

Abubakir Iqbal, 30, of Accrington, has been sentenced to 21 years in prison after being found guilty of conspiracy to commit robbery after a trial.

Shazad Mahmood, 26, of Oldham, has been sentenced to 17 years in prison after pleading to of conspiracy to commit robbery.

Anas Khan, 26, of Oldham, has been sentenced to 21 years in prison after pleading to of conspiracy to commit robbery / money laundering / handling stolen goods.

Detective Sergeant Rick Castley, of GMP’s Serious and Organised Crime Group, said: “This was a brazen group of individuals who had no regard for the safety of others as they flouted the law in pursuit for gains.

“I would like to commend the dedicated team who have been committed to this investigation and who today, have seen justice prevail. I hope these prison sentences serve as a stark reminder that we will leave no stone unturned in our investigations.”

Timeline of incidents

• Monday 26 November 2018 – attempted robbery at a store on Yorkshire Street, Rochdale
• Monday 26 November 2018 – robbery at a food store in Oldham
• Monday 3 December 2018 – robbery at a sports shop in Oldham town centre
• Monday 3 December 2018 – robbery at a shop in Clayton
• Monday 10 December 2018 – robbery at a shop in Bury
• Monday 10 December 2018 – robbery at a supermarket in Rochdale
• Monday 10 December 2018 – robbery at a newsagents in Reddish, Stockport
• Monday 24 December 2018 – robbery at a restaurant in Bury
• Wednesday 26 December 2018 – robbery at a clothes shop in Glossop
• Wednesday 2 January 2019 – robbery at a cash and carry in Longsight
• Thursday 31 January 2019 – robbery at a bank in Halifax