Robbery gang jailed for gun attack on teenage boy

Date published: 01 March 2010

Five men have been sentenced after a 15-year-old boy was beaten around the head with a gun and robbed at his home in Prestwich.

Aaron Graham (18/01/1987) of Marley Road, Levenshulme, pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery and possessing an imitation firearm and was jailed for eight years on Friday 26 February 2010 at Bolton Crown Court.

John O'Neill (01/01/1987) of Longford Road, Chorlton, pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery and possessing an imitation firearm and was jailed for eight years on Friday 26 February 2010 at Bolton Crown Court.

Cordell Austin (26/05/1987) of Haddington Drive, Blackley and pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery and possessing an imitation firearm and was jailed for ten years on Friday 26 February 2010 at Bolton Crown Court.

Andre Walker (08/09/1986) of Russell Street, Moss Side pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery and possessing an imitation firearm and was jailed for eight years on Friday 26 February 2010 at Bolton Crown Court.

Anton Mattis (20/06/1991) of Parrenthorn Road, Prestwich pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal with regards to the robbery at an earlier hearing. He was sentenced to 12 months in jail, suspended for two years, a 12-month supervision order and 100 hours unpaid work at an earlier hearing.

The robbery took place on Saturday 3 January 2009, at Deyne Avenue, Prestwich just before midnight.

Around half an hour earlier one of the victims, a 15-year-old boy, was walking along Deyne Avenue with his friend, a 17-year-old boy when they saw a red Vauxhall Vectra with four men on board.

They appeared to be looking at the boys and they drove very slowly past them to the end of the Crescent, turned around then came to a stop at the end of the alley at the rear of Deyne Avenue.

The boy's house had been burgled twice before and this seemed suspicious, so he went straight home to tell his mum.

The 17-year-old boy waited in the victim's living room, while the 15-year-old boy went upstairs to speak to his mum about the men in the Vectra.

Graham, O'Neill, Austin and Walker forced their way into the house armed with a gun, a stun gun, duct tape and cable ties.

One of them picked a bat up from the living room and then tied the 17-year-old boys hands together. He shouted at him, ordering him upstairs and demanding money.

As the 17-year-old walked up the stairs he saw the 15-year-old boy and his mum being assaulted by one of the men with a handgun.

The man was telling them to shut up and he began to hit the 15-year-old around his head with the gun. He told another man to take the woman downstairs and to watch her, while the two boys were taken into a bedroom upstairs.

They were told to search the room, while jewellery and money was stolen. The 15-year-old was told to open a suitcase and the man commented it had looked like there was something in it last time.

The older boy was taken to another bedroom to search, but the man ran out when they heard a loud bang from downstairs. The boy stayed in the bedroom and noticed his friend's younger brother was hiding in there.

The 13-year-old boy had called the police after he heard what was happening downstairs.

The 15-year-old boy at this time had been taken to the cellar and the men threatened to shoot him unless he told them where the money was. The boy was hit around the face and head with the gun.

He was then taken upstairs to another bedroom but he was left alone so he climbed out of the window and onto the roof, staying there until he felt safe to come down.

As police arrived the men ran out of the house but they managed to arrest O'Neill and Graham.

The house was searched and officers found a black bag containing cable ties and the gun used, a black 8mm blank firing handgun. The Vauxhall Vectra was also recovered.

Austin was arrested a few days later.

Their phone records were examined and it was discovered Walker had been in regular contact with the three men on the day of the robbery.

Further investigation of the phone records also linked Walker to Anton Mattis, who was arrested in July 2009.

Detective Constable Dave Potter of Bury Volume Crime Unit said: "These men were convinced there was money in the house and they were prepared to do what they needed to get it, including beating a young boy with the butt of a gun.

"This type of attack on people in their own home is quite rare, but it left the family feeling incredibly scared in the place they should feel the safest.

"Thankfully the youngest boy was able to call police and their ordeal was cut short by the arrival of the police, who managed to arrest O'Neill and Graham who attempted to do all they could to evade arrest.

"The victims of this offence showed incredible bravery in the face of the violence displayed by this gang, violence which was wholly unnecessary or justified.

"These violent men are now in the place they belong, behind bars and I hope that this will send out the right message that the Greater Manchester Police will investigate and bring to justice any person involved in offences of this nature."