Leeds gang convicted of ‘taking advantage of people’s misery’

A Leeds-based organized crime group ‘profited from people’s misery’ while running a shop in the city.

A police investigation called Operation Digford, led by officers from Leeds District Intelligence Unit, uncovered three of the shops in Leeds and Dewsbury – where vehicles were being dismantled and parts prepared to be sold. The group worked by stealing keyless vehicles by scanning the signal from the owners’ keys and using an on-board diagnostic tool to start the vehicles.

In an incident in August 2022 on Lime Pit Lane, Wakefield, a man was left with life-changing injuries after confronting Mark Smith, who ran over him. The man became trapped under the front wheel of the van and traveled with it for approximately 800 meters before freeing himself. Wakefield District CID and the District Crime Team were able to link the robbery to a sawmill in Armley, which was already under investigation.

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The gang were sentenced at Leeds Crown Court on Thursday and Friday last week and Smith, 40, of Tong Way, was jailed for 15 years for robbery and conspiracy to steal motor vehicles. Andrew Oldroyd, 49, of Wood Lane, Rothwell, was jailed for seven-and-a-half years for two counts of conspiracy to steal motor vehicles and one count of handling stolen goods.

Sam Oliver, 34, of Fifth Avenue in Rothwell, was jailed for six years and three months for two counts of conspiracy to steal motor vehicles. Adrian Stewart, 35, of Meynell Approach, Leeds, was jailed for two years and four months for conspiracy to steal motor vehicles and handling stolen goods, while Jason Tester, 51 aged, of Cottingley Road, Leeds, was jailed for 18 months for conspiracy to steal. Motor vehicles.

Peter Hoyle, 38, of Aberford Road, Woodlesford, was jailed for 11 months for conspiracy to steal a motor vehicle, Edgar Uzulins, 34, of Baileys Crescent, Leeds, was jailed for 20 of months with suspension for two years.

Julie Hainsworth, 48, of Stratford Avenue, Beeston, was given a nine-month sentence suspended for two years for conspiracy to steal vehicles, and James Hemingway, 50, of Wood Drive, Rothwell, was sentenced to two months in prison for perverting the course of justice.

Detective Chief Inspector Scott Hartley, head of precision for Leeds District, said: “This was an organized crime group that took advantage of other people’s misery by targeting high value vehicles and commercial vans containing tools. This was a sophisticated enterprise worth around £1 million.

“In one incident, significant violence was used when the victim attempted to stop their vehicle being stolen, showing the willingness and lengths to which this group would go to commit these thefts. His life was devastated socially, financially and physically by the actions of this OCG.

“The truth is that organized crime destroys lives, and as part of the Precision Program, we are committed to disrupting and dismantling those involved in organized crime.”

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