Charlotte Baines leading Rachel Scott successfully prosecuted members of an Organised Crime Group (OCG) operating in the Humberside area, involved in a conspiracy to steal, a conspiracy to handle stolen goods and converting criminal property.
Charlie Rhodes and Darren Watson were involved in the theft of high value motor vehicles in the Humberside area. The vehicles were delivered to various “chop shops” run by members of the OCG where the vehicles were quickly dismantled, with the parts being sold on, mainly via eBay accounts, thereby profiting from their crimes.
Humberside Police raided six chop shops in the North Lincolnshire area and recovered parts from 72 stolen motor vehicles stolen from 17 force areas across the country. The value of the stolen vehicles identified was in excess of £1 million. All of the vehicles were broken down to such an extent that they could not be returned to their owners.
The detailed police investigation included the seizure of 208 digital devices which led to a total of 1500 exhibits served as evidence. Extensive telephone, CCTV and financial evidence was presented during the course of the trials.
The defendants were sentenced by HHJ Fanning at Grimsby Crown Court over four days.
Charlie Rhodes entered guilty pleas to conspiracy to steal and converting criminal property. He was sentenced to 4 years and 6 months imprisonment.
Darren Watson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal and was sentenced to 3 years imprisonment.
Lukas Voveris who was a boss at one of the units where vehicles were broken down was convicted after trial of conspiracy to handle stolen goods and converting criminal property. He was sentenced to 5 years 6 months imprisonment. His worker in the unit Gedrius Eimutis was sentenced to 4 years imprisonment for conspiracy to handle stolen goods.
Tomas Bruzikas another unit boss was convicted after trial of conspiracy to handle stolen goods and converting criminal property. He was sentenced to 7 years and 6 months imprisonment. His worker Sarunas Eidininkas pleaded guilty at an early stage and received a sentence of 2 years and 10 months’ imprisonment.
Kantrimas Zukauskas who was also a unit boss was convicted after trial of conspiracy to handle stolen goods and converting criminal property. He was sentenced to 7 years 9 months imprisonment.
Lukas Lidzius pleaded guilty at an early stage to conspiracy to handle stolen goods and converting criminal property and was sentenced to 5 years 3 months.
Guntars Dubrenieks was convicted after trial of conspiracy to handle stolen goods and converting criminal property for running one of the units for 5 ½ weeks and was sentenced to 5 years 7 months imprisonment.
Counsel are instructed by the Caroline May from the Complex Casework Unit, Crown Prosecution Service.