“Wild and feral” gang jailed for £600k burglary spree across 25 counties
A “wild and feral” gang of burglars has been jailed for a combined 28 years for their part in a £600,000 conspiracy to break into shops and steal cash across England and Wales.
The six men carried out 89 offences between April 2022 and September 2023, targeting stores and cash machines in Somerset, Norfolk, Hampshire, Sussex, Kent, Berkshire, Bedfordshire, Staffordshire, and Wales. Most of the offences involved Co-op stores.
Winchester Crown Court heard that the gang often operated in threes, carrying out “rapid smash and grabs,” forcing entry to shops and stealing cash and products. They travelled from Southampton using cars that had been stolen, hired, or borrowed from associates, often with cloned number plates.
Prosecutor Mark Ruffell said at least £450,000 in cash was stolen, with the total cost of damage bringing the overall loss to more than £600,000.
One of the ringleaders, Danny Kernaghan, 39, of Crestwood View, Eastleigh, was involved in 71 offences, including a £60,000 theft from a vape store in Yeovil, Somerset.
Leevan Sharma, 37, of Saltmead, Southampton, described by the judge as an important figure in the gang, was involved in 31 incidents.
The other men sentenced were:
• Liam Dean Attrill, 26, of Spring Close, Southampton – 15 offences
• Harrison Sean Randall, 29, of Mangolia Road, Southampton – 13 offences
• Ravi Mahendra Parmar, 43, of Wilton Road, Southampton – 5 offences
• Albert Wyraz, 28, of Priory Road, Southampton – 12 offences
Kernaghan, Sharma, Randall, and Wyraz denied conspiracy to commit burglary but were convicted following a six-week trial. Parmar pleaded guilty on the fourth day of the trial, and Attrill on the fifth.
Sentencing the group, Judge Christopher Parker KC said:
“In a civilised society, you each behaved as part of a wild and feral pack, which had no regard for people’s legitimate businesses or other people’s livelihoods and their feeling of safety.
“The hallmarks of this case were a targeting of particular stores, with a focused, rapid smash and grab nature.”
Kernaghan was sentenced to nine years in prison, Sharma to six years, Randall to four years, Attrill to three years and four months, Wyraz to three years, and Parmar to two years and six months.
Investigating officer Paul Harrison said:
“This has been a very long and complex investigation, but I am pleased to see this has culminated with each of the six men here beginning prison sentences today.
“Not only have they wreaked havoc on Co-op and other businesses across the country, stealing a vast sum of money and causing extensive damage, but they have also caused misery for people who have had their cars stolen or number plates taken.
“Each of them felt they were above the law, but through our relentless investigation, working together with multiple police services and other partners, we have now brought them to justice.”
Pictured below: Danny Kernaghan, Leevan Sharma, Harrison Randall, Liam Attrill, Albert Wyraz, Ravi Parmar
