Four men convicted and sentenced following conspiracy to commit burglary and stealing nearly £420,000 of goods

Four men, who were part of a conspiracy to commit burglary across Hampshire, Surrey, Dorset, Avon and Somerset, Sussex and Wiltshire have been convicted and sentenced for their crimes.

Appearing at Southampton Crown Court, it was heard that the group would travel in convoy where they would use private hire vehicles or stolen vehicles on cloned plates to drive to various locations.

As part of the investigation, a total of 16 burglaries were uncovered that had been committed in Hampshire. Three burglaries occurred in Surrey, three burglaries in Dorset, two burglaries in Avon & Somerset, one burglary in Sussex and one burglary in Wiltshire.

The overall value of goods stolen and loss to businesses in terms of damage caused totalled nearly £420,000.

Four men had previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to burgle at various hearings at Southampton Crown Court between November 2022 and April 2023.

Those convicted are Bleu Alford, 32 Southampton, who was jailed for two years and eight months and Callum Robert Raymond Knox, 36 Southampton, who was jailed for two years and four months. Leroy Glen Dashwood, 32, of Chiltern Green, Southampton, was sentenced to two years imprisonment but it was suspended for 18 months and he was also ordered to complete 20 sessions of a rehabilitation course and undertake 200 hours of unpaid work.

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Damian Lee Smith, 42, of Bullar Road, Southampton, was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment, which was suspended for 18 months and he was also ordered to complete 35 sessions of a rehabilitation courts and undertake 180 hours of unpaid work.

While three other men had previously been sentenced for their part in the conspiracy during a hearing at Southampton Crown Court on Tuesday 27 June.

Detective Constable Paul Beasley, who led the investigation, said: “Today’s ruling has brought to a close a difficult investigation which not only impacted residents and business owners in Hampshire and Isle of Wight – but across a number of neighbouring counties.

“The group simply believed that they were above the law and would not get caught. Greed got the better of them and justice has now been served with all nine men receiving sanctions as a result of our their actions.

“We conducted a fully-through and robust investigation – and today’s result is down to the sheer dedication of my officers, but also the efforts of our investigative counterparts at Surrey Police, Dorset Police, Avon & Somerset Police, Sussex Police and Wiltshire Police.

“We have taken a very well planned, thought-out operation and got them off the streets and behind bars; where they will now spend a significant period of time for their troubles. Our collective actions have dismantled a very dangerous organised criminal gang and for that – I am incredibly thankful to all those involved in getting us to this stage.”

To find out more information about how to report a crime, visit the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary website.