Payback for machete gang jailed for spree

A gang of armed robbers who carried out security van robberies including one in Lancaster have been ordered to pay back their ill-gotten gains.
From left: Lee Seddon, Michael Bond and Stephen Farrell.From left: Lee Seddon, Michael Bond and Stephen Farrell.
From left: Lee Seddon, Michael Bond and Stephen Farrell.

The Manchester-based criminals, who netted £285,000 in raids in Lancaster, Preston and Cleveleys and across the country were jailed for a total of 58 years last February after a two-year crime spree.

Armed with machetes and axes they targeted cash-in-transit vans carrying bundles of money for ATM machines.

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In a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing at Preston Crown Court, Seddon, 37, of Snow Hill Road, Bolton, who is serving 13 years and two months, was found to have benefited by £40,828.30 but only had £1,952 of assets, including his car, to pay back.Accomplice Stephen Farrell, 35, of Mark Avenue, Salford, benefited by £20,800 but only had £1,681.62 of realisable assets to pay back as he serves a 10-year jail term. Fellow criminals Jordan Wheeldon, 26, of Seaford Road, Salford, is serving five years four months. He was ordered to pay back a token sum of £1 - despite benefiting by £11,000 as was Michael Bond, 32, of Gorsey Avenue, Wythenshawe, who benefited by £17,000.

Det Sgt Mark Riley of 
Lancashire Police said: 
“After a successful prosecution, a financial investigation has realised their benefits and they’ve been pursued and punished further.” Another defendant, Philip Fisher, 32, of Bolton, will face similar proceedings on September 20.