David Potter successfully prosecutes armed gang

March 18, 2015

David Potter from Exchange Chambers has successfully prosecuted members of an armed gang who raided the homes of wealthy members of Liverpool’s Chinese community.

Jack Hunter and Jamie Ellis were part of a “highly organised” group armed with machetes, knives, meat cleavers and an axe who terrorised ordinary families.

Liverpool Crown Court heard the team stole around £250,000 of jewellery, watches, electrical goods, cash and cars from terrified people, including a heavily pregnant woman, children and the elderly, between November 2013 and March 2014.

David Potter, prosecuting, said: “They burgled with ruthless efficiency and a high level of violence. They were determined to steal property by threatening the occupiers with a variety of fearsome weapons.”

Ellis, 24, and another man called Daniel Challinor, 21, also targeted cash-in-transit vans.

Hunter, 20, originally from Huyton but of no fixed address, admitted conspiracy to commit burglary.

He was found guilty of conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary after a trial.

Hunter had 19 previous convictions for 42 offences, including two assaults in 2008.

Ellis, 24, of Jeffereys Crescent, Huyton, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rob and handling stolen goods.

He was in breach of a 20-month suspended sentence imposed in 2013 for producing cannabis.

Judge Clement Goldstone, QC, said the gang used a variety of “lethal weapons”.

He said Hunter showed no regard for his victims and sentenced him to 16 years in a young offenders institution.

The judge said: “Your only concern was to line your pockets in search of a lifestyle which otherwise you would not have been able to afford. You were motivated by greed and you were prepared to stop at nothing.”

Judge Goldstone jailed Ellis for nine years, including 15 months of his suspended sentence.

Challinor, 21, of Croxdale Road, Yewtree, admitted conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary and burglary, robbery and handling stolen goods.

Challinor’s grandma, Marlene Currie, 67, of Huntsman Wood, West Derby, admitted possessing criminal property, after the court heard she laundered cash at a Gala Bingo through gaming machines.

They will be sentenced on March 26, while another member of the gang, Craig Lister, 34, of no fixed abode, will be sentenced in May.