So far in Greater Manchester, more than 2.5 million in cash has been seized, as well as nearly a dozen firearms and at least 1,100 rounds of ammunition. Something went wrong, please try again later. "The gangs in Manchester still have their roots from the gangs that were around in the 80s and 90s," says DS Connor. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. The killer of an eight-year-old girl, a Strangeways protester and an armed robbery gang are among the serious criminals who were locked up in Greater Manchester in April. How is your father?". "Mainly organised criminals largely target people of a similar stature - they are not going after members of the public. At the end of the day he was a dad and his son had been murdered. Manchester City currently find themselves one point clear of Arsenal in the Premier League table, with Pep Guardiola's side also having a game in hand on the Gunners. Jermaine Ward, 24, and Francis Dixon, 37, from Stalybridge, both deny the murder of David Short, the attempted murder of Sharon Hark and one count of causing an explosion. "Their Chests Were Carved Open" Biggest Mass Child Sacrifice Ever Found, Daniel Burros, The Nazi Klansmen Who Killed Himself After His Jewish Background Was Made Public, What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch. Manchester Crown Court was told Michael Nevin a courier working for the Cox family arranged to sell the drugs to Atkinson who sent a "mate" to meet him near Manchester City's training ground in East Manchester. Gang violence had broken out in a place where young families lived, she said. Simon Atkinson is a British architect, currently the Mike Hogg Centennial Professor in Community and Regional Planning at University of Texas at Austin and Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. "I had a fight with one of their nephewstwo of their nephews. Frank was left in a wheelchair after his kneecap was blown across a pub in September 2003. The deal with Atkinson was done near Manchester City's Etihad Stadium. It came amid a background of "history" between the Short and Atkinson families which began two years earlier, the court was told. Atkinson, 43, had moved from the Tameside area to Atherton, but, his criminal career was interrupted in July 2020 when he was in a first raft of 34 people charged locally after the encrypted phone network was infiltrated by police. 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"It's just absolutely awful that there were children playing in the street while this happened. Despite the verdict, well-placed underworld sources say Atkinson and his associates will face attempts on their lives as gangsters look to avenge the murders. But Wade Cox in particular wasn't a complicated or intelligent character. Historic goal masks hidden Erling Haaland improvement for Man City. A wanted notice is circulated for Paris Bostock, who is the step-son of Darren Berkeley - a well known drug dealer from the south Manchester division. They warned us they were going to kill daddy. But the image of him relaxing in the sunshine was key evidence in his downfall as a big time drugs dealer. The victim tells police: "They took me to an address with an empty room and a chair in it. 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"I had him a fight at that time. At the handover Nevin sold six kilograms of cocaine to a criminal who used the Encro handle 'Festivetape.' "Paris Bostock, I'd know him anywhere," DS Connor says. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. After the handover Atkinson was back in touch and said he wanted to buy another seven kgs of drugs. My brothers had fights with his cousins or nephews. Sign up for our daily newsletter to get the day's biggest stories sent direct to your inbox. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. The shocking scene, caught in CCTV, was no war torn country - but a quiet street in East Manchester on a bright, sunny afternoon in 2018. He and four others admitted a raft of offences including conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and money laundering. 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The first episode of 'The Detectives: fighting organised crime' aired on Tuesday night, and focuses on the horrific kidnapping and torture of two men in November and December 2018. Relatives and associates of the father and son, murdered by a hit squad including double cop killer Dale Cregan, are furious the man they believe ordered the first killing walked free. Man killed and seven stabbed in rampage near nightclub, Man who served 15 years for murder his brother confessed to awarded $7,500,000. A violent gang who stole over 1m of cocaine from a Liverpool stash house arranged to sell on the drugs to criminals near the Manchester City training ground. Two males were seen to pick up the money, before making their way towards a Mercedes. They use people with physical, mental disabilities, children, women who are desperate for money, drug users. The jury heard that David Short thought Cregan was responsible for a "very serious attack" on him when he was run off his bike and had his throat cut. Sign up to the Daily Star's newsletter. A blowtorch is held to his ears, an iron is pressed to his knees and he is injected with heroin during the terrifying ordeal. Police suspect the victim is a wealthy drug dealer. Theres a blood feud waiting to happen.. May bank holiday Monday opening times for Aldi, ASDA, Tesco, Lidl, M&S, Morrisons and Sainsbury's, Supermarket opening and closing hours for early sping bank holiday Monday, May 1, Man City's next six Premier League fixtures compared with Arsenal ahead of West Ham clash. He said he had known both David Short and Cregan for "a very long time". Casemiro was back to his best for Man Utd in their win against Aston Villa in the Premier League and Erik ten Hag has given his verdict on the holding midfielder. The man is just one of many who have fallen victim to the brutality of Greater Manchester's most notorious crime gangs. A man can be seen leaving the house, with his cap only partially pulled over his face. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. 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Then, check out the story of the, The Story Of Dale Cregan, The Deranged One-Eyed Killer. The victim is pouring with blood and DS Connor fears he may have suffered brain damage. "Because of the level of violence used, the victim said 'I will take you somewhere to get some money,'" DCI Clitherow says. Inside the 'mini Dutch pancake house' hidden on a quaint Greater Manchester Square, Papa Dutch started life as a family lockdown project before gaining a loyal following for its authentic mini Dutch pancakes, 'He hasn't got away with it like he thought he probably had' remorseless paedophile's past comes back to haunt him, Paul Betts has been sentenced to five years in prison, Police release CCTV images of man they want to speak to after young girl sexually assaulted, Officers were called to reports of a girl being sexually assaulted near Lees Valley yesterday (April 29), A child-killer, a Strangeways protester and an armed robbery gang: locked up in April. Travel agent scammed friends and family out of . We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. . After a ten week court case at Manchester Crown Court, in 2019, Jack West, Connor Cornforth and Ben Dodd were convicted of assisting an offender and sentenced to between 2.5 and 3.5 years. The court also heard that one of Nevin's customers was annoyed about the use of the 'Man City' password because he was a Manchester United fan. If someone else tries to muscle in on that, they will do everything possible to stop that. "He is built like he could kill you with his bare hands," says DS Connor. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. "We shook hands and agreed to speak on the phone if we had any problems.". "Generally if we catch people its those lower down. An old lady carrying her shopping hurries indoors and a boy on a bike cycles away as four more bullets are emptied into a van and a blood-spattered body slumps out of the passenger door. Monks-Gorton, 30, who had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit to robbery, was jailed for six years and nine months. This wont be let go. After putting out an alert on Bostock, Julie receives a call from a covert officer to say the Mercedes in question had been parked outside a suspected crack house on the day of the kidnapping. Historic goal masks hidden Erling Haaland improvement for Man City. The picture was taken on April 8th 2020 and sent to Jason Cox. Most populous nation: Should India rejoice or panic? Police bodycam footage showed distressing scenes inside the house after the violent robbery. When Manchester was known as . The Daily Star Sunday understands two families from Clayton and known villains from nearby Salford are planning retribution. Some of the individuals sentenced here are some of the higher-level organised criminals that operate in Greater Manchester, and again demonstrate the unprecedented damage we as law enforcement are being able to inflict on multi-million-pound gangs as a result of EncroChat. The prosecutor asked: "Your father, has he ever told you who he thought was responsible? A new BBC documentary lays bare how Organised Crime Group (OCGs) are terrorising the city, as GMP's Major Incident Team work to bring down the most dangerous criminals. View our online Press Pack. He had also developed an unhealthy obsession with knives. Casemiro was back to his best for Man Utd in their win against Aston Villa in the Premier League and Erik ten Hag has given his verdict on the holding midfielder. Four men are captured on CCTV in connection with the second kidnapping, CCTV footage shows the men bashing the victim's head into the car and pistol whipping him, before he is bundled into the boot of the vehicle, Blake Evers (centre), Darren Berkeley (right) and Paris Bostock (left). This second meeting was also held near to Manchester City's training ground. An underworld pal of David said: I remember I was 18 in a club called Cherries in Droylsden and there was a man called Danny Mason head doorman at the time. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. In September 2012, Dale Cregan made a fake call to the police, reporting that someone had thrown a concrete brick at his property. "Mothers told of their fears for their children who were playing innocently in the street.". An eye for an eye but Cregan and his boys struck first. It is clear no criminal is untouchable, and no unscrupulous individual is safe from detection. After the bloody attack, accomplices helped hide Cregan, so police were not immediately able to find and arrest him. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. He was sentenced to six years in prison. "2018 was a very hot summer. But when you see a gunman burst out of a house, into a busy residential street and shooting, in broad daylight with people sitting in their front gardens, children playing, the sun shining, at teatime, that is horrendous. Atkinson then sent a 'mate' to meet Nevin near Manchester City's training ground in East Manchester. Meanwhile, inside the address where the first victim is suspected to have been tortured, a paint removing gun, hot plates and tape with blood and hair are recovered. A sum of 34,000 was dropped in a bag on Langport Avenue in Withington. Manchester United took a big step towards securing Champions League football for next season after notching a 1-0 victory over Aston Villa at Old Trafford on Sunday. A team led by Gang Specialist, Detective Sergeant Julie Connor, suspect that the kidnapping is the work of an organised crime group. Immediately following the murders, Dale Cregan went to the police and turned himself in. Something went wrong, please try again later. A six shooter. What Manchester United need to secure top four Premier League finish & Champions League football, Erik ten Hag saw his side beat Aston Villa on Sunday to cement their place in the top four, Inside the 'mini Dutch pancake house' hidden on a quaint Greater Manchester Square, Papa Dutch started life as a family lockdown project before gaining a loyal following for its authentic mini Dutch pancakes, 'I don't regret being an older mum - it meant I got to party in my 20s', Samantha Heathcock says she has no regrets about having children later in life, What Jadon Sancho told Bruno Fernandes to stop doing and more Man United moments missed vs Villa. READ MORE:Liverpool man's role in 1m cocaine heist shocks the underworld. One woman interviewed, who names Cox as the killer, is heard refusing to give a statement for fear of reprisals. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. He has refused to cooperate with the investigation. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. "There's been an increase in criminals robbing other criminals," says DS Connor. The court also heard that one of Nevin's customers was annoyed about the use of the 'Man City' password because he was a Manchester United fan. 'It was crazy': Residents wake to 'almighty bang' and sirens following 'serious' crash on main road, One person was taken to hospital following the five-vehicle crash on Sunday morning (April 30), "My house looked like it had been burgled after my marriage broke down - now I help other hoarders clear out their clutter", Janine McDonald's house became cluttered after she lost her job and her marriage broke down, forcing her to live on just 800 a month. Ahmed was also jailed for six years after being found guilty of conspiracy to transfer criminal property and being concerned in an arrangement which facilitates the acquisition, retention, use or control of criminal property. Four of the five men captured during raids were given sentences totalling almost 40 years on Monday and Tuesday. In 2013, on trial alongside Cregan, he was cleared of murdering Mark Short and attempting to murder three others in Droylsden's Cotton Tree pub. Prime witness Peanut - tracked down after fleeing the Birch Street address - claimed he didnt recognise any of the men and DS Connor says fear would stop him identifying the killers. They received jail terms between eight and 15 years when they were brought before a judge at Manchester Crown Court. He confessed to both the murders of Hughes and Bone, and was later charged with the murders of Mark and David Short, and attempted murders of the three other men at the Cotton Tree pub on the day of Mark Shorts murder. He is not the only one who has made mistakes around the use of them. Nevin, who was not involved in the raid at the stash house, was jailed for nine years and nine months. Using the handles 'Carrothorn' and 'Maidenbear' Atkinson messaged the Cox clan to negotiate buying from them half of 1m worth of cocaine they had stolen from an infamous Liverpool crime gang. Police believe Atkinson was aware the cocaine had been taxed from other criminals but did not know it had been stolen from such a potent Merseyside firm. We had another fight after that. Ive been a police officer since 1992 and Ive got to know the gangs of Manchester pretty well, she says. Forensic officers find what appears to be an arm restraint, and a form of blowtorch. They warned us they were going to kill daddy," a young child asks his mum. Its the children and grandchildren of those gang members that are now finding their own gangs. The talking points as Manchester City took on Fulham at Craven Cottage as the title race with Arsenal reaches the final stages of the season. Marsden was sentenced to nine years and eight months while Ghafar received a jail term of eight years and eight months. On a hot sunny day in June 2018, just before 5pm, drug dealer Luke Graham and his associate Anton Verigota dropped some crack and heroin at a house in Birch Street, Ashton-Under-Lyne, and drove away in a silver van. Charlie Atkinson, who drove Coxs phone away and provided him with an alibi, was given eight years for assisting an indictable offence. The talking points as Manchester City took on Fulham at Craven Cottage as the title race with Arsenal reaches the final stages of the season. Leon Atkinson hit David Short in the face in 2001 for "looking at him", the jury heard during the 12-week trial, creating a simmering tension between the two east Manchester families. latest news, feel-good stories, analysis and more, Golden retriever escapes and walks 40 miles back to his old owners, Woman, 86, fighting for life after being knocked off scooter as she was out with husband, Shop destroyed after suspected gas explosion in London, Do not sell or share my personal information. 'It was crazy': Residents wake to 'almighty bang' and sirens following 'serious' crash on main road, One person was taken to hospital following the five-vehicle crash on Sunday morning (April 30), "My house looked like it had been burgled after my marriage broke down - now I help other hoarders clear out their clutter", Janine McDonald's house became cluttered after she lost her job and her marriage broke down, forcing her to live on just 800 a month. The convicted drug dealer, jailed in 2016 after police found heroin and cocaine stuffed between his buttocks during a police raid, was a one-time associate of cop killer Dale Cregan. But the ultimate goal is to get them.". With drug use on the rise, and organised crime gangs (OCGs) battling to keep their slice of the takings, bitter turf wars have broken out across Manchester. Inside the property, the victim's child is heard to say: "Did Daddy die? Manchester City currently find themselves one point clear of Arsenal in the Premier League table, with Pep Guardiola's side also having a game in hand on the Gunners. Five months after the first kidnap and after several weeks on the run, Darren Berkeley handed himself into police. "Did Daddy die? He was really careless and behaved in an uncontrolled way. DS Connor says the intimidation of Peanut shows how the gangs increasingly prey on vulnerable people and use their houses as bases for their illegal activities. "He was ultimately charged with a conspiracy involving 28kg of cocaine of which inadvertently he takes possession of the 15kg from the Cox's.". Atkinson added: "My dad is not a criminal or a gangster. They take over their houses. Police learned about the meetings near the Manchester City ground after reading messages sent on the EncroChat network. When Dave heard that Danny had slapped a friend of our sister, he came and said to the three doormen that were standing there, If you dont go and get Mason to come outside, I am coming in and going through all of you.. Leon Atkinson and David Short shook hands at the end of the talks, Don't miss out on the big stories from Manchester's courts with our weekly newsletter. DNA which was found on a cap left at the scene of the second kidnapping is matched to another man, who has a long history of violence and armed robbery. They had no shame in profiting from flooding communities not just with illicit substances but also with the misery, violence and deprivation that come with it. In one attack, an Atkinson associate nearly killed David after stabbing him six times. He knows that it is taxed but not who it has been taxed from. Theres a lot more gangs in Manchester than there used to be and theyre more organised than they were in the 90s, explains DS Julie Connor. It was discovered after law enforcement agencies cracked the "secret" Encrochat network used by criminals to message each other. asked the prosecutor. "Moss side, Salford, Fallowfield, Cheetham Hill. Police said: We recovered an image of Atkinson drinking beer in his garden during the Covid lockdown.