This is the moment a gang of car thieves was busted by cops after leading officers on a dramatic 100mph chase.
Declan McClusky, Alan McCabe, Kade McEwan and Christopher Ward were all arrested following the high-speed pursuit through Gatley. Footage showed officers chasing a stolen car they were in as it weaved through streets and careered onto the wrong side of the road.
The thieves then fled the car, before they were all detained by officers with sniffer dogs. One of the gang members was found hiding under a sofa.
McClusky, McCabe, McEwan and Ward were all busted as part of an investigation by detectives from GMP's Serious Organised Crime Group into burglaries and car thefts across Manchester. Police linked them to 13 incidents that saw a range of cars, including Audis and Porsches, being stolen from car parks, town centres and from private driveways.
The stolen cars would then be used in other burglaries, police said. When police seized the phones from the four suspects, they found pictures of some of the stolen cars being flaunted on social media.
All four defendants appeared via video link at Minshull Street Crown Court for a sentencing hearing beginning last Friday and concluding yesterday (March 15). Prosecuting, Hugh McKee told the court that at some time after 1.40am on December 26, 2021, the keys to a Nissan Qashqai and Ford Fiesta were taken from a property in Bowden, Trafford.
Both cars were stolen. Three weeks later, on January 19, 2022, a burglary was interrupted at a property in Hale Barns, Trafford.
No items were taken but the Qashqai was seen with different number plates, the court heard. Mr McKee said a police officer found the car in Wythenshawe later that day and two days later it was examined, with fingerprints taken from the rear-view mirror identified as McCluskey's.
The court heard on February 13 last year, a blue Audi S1 was stolen along with jewellery from a property in West Felton, Shropshire. A white Mini Cooper and a Vauxhall Astra were also stolen from a property in Timperley, Trafford, the same day.
The court heard McCluskey was seen with each car. Mr McKee said a Skoda Fabia was also taken from Gorton on February 27, with the keys taken from a hook inside a property.
McCluskey was seen in the Skoda on March 2, on the same day McCabe was seen driving the Audi, with both vehicles travelling together on Simonsway in Wythenshawe. Mr McHugh told the court: "McCluskey and McCabe, the Crown says, are part of a long-running operation to burgle houses and steal cars.
"Jewellery was taken on at least two occasions that we know of." The prosecution said McEwan and Ward were seen with McCluskey and McCabe on the night the operation was brought to a halt.
Shortly before midnight on March 2 last year, there was an attempted burglary in Heald Green, Stockport, with the Skoda seen parked nearby. The court heard the car was driven off and pursued by police.
Mc McKee said Ward was driving the car dangerously before police used a tactical stop, and the car's occupants ran off. Ward was arrested, followed by McCluskey, who told police: "I'm a passenger, just a passenger."
The court heard McCabe was found hiding under a settee at his home, where he told police: "I haven't done anything wrong." Officers seized an iPhone from the property, which had photographs of at least 10 cars stolen in January and February last year.
McEwan was arrested a week later, after being identified from CCTV. Defending McCluskey, Alistair Reid said his client had 'gone off the rails' following the death of his grandparents four years ago, and that he had built up a drug debt.
McCabe had also been seen driving a stolen Audi in 2020, the court heard. Defending, Stuart Duke said McCabe accepted his client had a 'poor record', but insisted there were 'stable family influences' for him to come out of custody to.
Mr Duke also represented Ward, whose driving he described as 'not the worst case of dangerous driving'. Representing McEwan, Rachel White said her client had a 'history of chaotic childhood', but there was hope he could 'invest' in his current 'relationship with a young woman'.
Judge Matthew Corbett-Jones sentenced McClusky, 20, of Boothfield Road, Wythenshawe, to three years and four months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary, driving whilst disqualified and without insurance.
McCabe, 19, of Boothfield Road, Wythenshawe, was jailed for three years and 11 months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary. McEwan, 20, of Moorcroft Road, Manchester, was jailed for one year and ten months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary.
Ward, 20, of Ninfield Road, Wythenshawe, was jailed for two years and eight months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary, dangerous driving, driving without insurance, possession of a bladed article and possession of cannabis.
Detective Constable Chris Bromley, from GMP Serious Organised Crime Group, said: "This group were prolific thieves, and these were really intrusive crimes where they would often break into people’s homes and steal the cars from their drives, leaving people unable to get to work or take their children to school.
"These men had no regard for public safety with their behaviour and reckless driving, and I hope this incident demonstrates that no matter how organised a gang may think they are, we will use all the experience and resources available to available to put these individuals behind bars."
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