Man jailed following robberies of high-powered cars

A car robber who terrified victims in Rochdale has been jailed.

Niall Kiernan, 19, of Buttermere Drive, Middleton pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery and was sentenced to seven and half years in jail before Bolton Crown Court

Another man, Arran Crossan, 19 of Boarshaw Clough Way, Middleton pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery and affray and was sentenced to three years and nine months in jail.

Mr Kiernan offending spanned from March 2008 to June 2009. He would target victims who owned high-powered cars, either confronting them getting in or out of the cars, or burst into their houses to search for the keys, while the victims were upstairs.

Mr Crossan, on at least two occasions, orchestrated the following movements of the cars that were stolen, an S line Audi A3, an Alfa Romeo and a Volswagen Golf R32.

A Vauxhall Astra VXR was stolen from a house on Victoria Avenue East in the early hours of Monday 20 April 2009, an offence Kiernan has admitted conspiring to.

The police arrested Kiernan and Crossan after the Rochdale Volume Crime Team launched Operation Dudwell.

Detective Sergeant Martin Soutter, from the Dudwell team, said: "Today, two very dangerous criminals have been brought to justice following an intensive police investigation.

"Kiernan was relentless in his addiction to stealing high-powered cars. The sentence he has received today is a reflection of the anguish he put his victims through.

"People going about their daily lives would be startled by weapon wielding maniacs who showed them no compassion.

"Greater Manchester Police works tirelessly to ensure that people should feel safe when going about their business. Investigations like Operation Dudwell will continue, as it is imperative that we reassure our communities."