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A company called Elev8 Civils & Utilities was set-up allowing the gang to work in liveried vans giving the appearance they were engaged in legitimate utilities work.<\/p>\n
The men wore high visibility clothing and used signage to close roads but the gang were digging up pavements to access live mains connections which they then spliced to run a direct feed to properties they had earmarked for cannabis cultivation.<\/p>\n
Eight men were sentenced to more than 28 years at Liverpool Crown Court.Liverpool Crown Court on Friday after police uncovered more than 100 cannabis farms, and seized cannabis plants with a potential street value of up to \u00a321m.<\/p>\n
As part of \u201cOperation Spark\u201d officers seized various diggers, breakers, generators, vans, motorcycles, and cabling at the firm\u2019s Wigan depot.<\/p>\n
Ross McGinn and Andrew Roberts were registered as Elev8\u2019s company directors. They played a leading role in the conspiracy, running the day-to-day business. They liased with other crime groups and directed the work to be carried out.<\/p>\n
Graham Roberts\u00a0played a key role in the operation as a skilled jointer responsible for splicing and connecting the live cable to run the new feed to the premises for the intended cannabis production.<\/p>\n
Michael Ashurst,\u00a0Greg Black, Lewin Charles, Aiden Durand, and Jack Sherry\u00a0were all groundworkers for the OCG, responsible for digging up the roads and exposing cables.<\/p>\n
Colin White, a former Scottish Power employee, stole equipment from the Liverpool depot to provide the vital cabelling equipment they needed to carry out the works.<\/p>\n
Detective Chief Inspector Zoe Russo from the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit Operation\u2019s Team said:\u00a0 \u201cThis crime group ran a highly sophisticated but dangerous operation, operating out of fake utility vans, which allowed them to work all over the country without raising suspicion.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn WhatsApp conversations, we uncovered chats where group members sent pictures of injuries they had received \u2018on site\u2019 following electrical explosions.<\/p>\n
\u201cAndrew Roberts posted a picture of himself with injuries to his face after failing to connect something properly, causing an explosion that resulted in burns.\u00a0This highlights the dangerous and reckless nature of their activities.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn total we uncovered more than 100 cannabis farms, with a potential street value of more than \u00a321m. This investigation has dismantled a significant criminal network, preventing a significant amount of drugs from reaching our streets and blighting our communities. I hope today\u2019s sentencing sends a clear message that we will not tolerate such organised crime in our communities.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n