A MEMBER of a gang which stole hundreds of thousands of pounds by blowing up cash machines has been jailed for 17 years.

The ring targeted ATMs – which were filled with gas using a pipe before being ignited – across the country, including two in Warrington.

In total, £130,300 was taken from a cash machine outside the Barclays branch on Lodge Drive in Culcheth in May 2013.

And £97,070 was stolen from a Barclays ATM at Birchwood Shopping Centre in September the same year.

Seven men were later jailed for a combined 92 years over the string of attacks.

But an eighth conspirator, Adam Murphy, spent seven years on the run and fled abroad before finally being captured by police in Liverpool in December 2019.

On Monday, February 22, the 35-year-old was caged at Liverpool Crown Court after being found guilty of conspiracy to cause explosions and conspiracy to commit burglary.

Detective inspector Neil Fletcher, of Merseyside Police, said: “Murphy was the one remaining member of a serious organised crime group who thought they were untouchable and took huge risks in their criminal behaviour.

“It is very reassuring to see him finally brought to justice.

“Murphy and his co-defendants were reckless, using dangerous tactics to target ATMs which clearly put members of the public at risk.

“The techniques used by the men involved in these attacks were extremely risky and we are fortunate that no one was seriously injured or killed.

“In addition, Murphy was involved in a high-speed chase in Liverpool while wanted – an incident which again could have so easily ended in tragedy and left a passenger with serious physical and psychological injuries.

“The sentencing today is a clear message to those offenders who believe that they can avoid detection by committing crimes in different forces, and to those who look to evade the authorities.

“We are relentless in our pursuit of criminals involved in serious organised crime, and there are no borders where finding offenders is concerned.

“Although Murphy evaded justice for seven years, he could not run forever and will now have a significant time in prison to reflect on his dangerous and thoughtless actions.”

The total amount of cash stolen and damage caused to the 28 cash machines targeted – which were located at banks, post offices and food stores – during 2013 amounted to roughly £1.5million.

But the gang was eventually brought down by a tracking device which had been fitted inside a cash cassette which was taken during the Birchwood incident.

Murphy – of no fixed address – was also handed a five-year serious crime prevention order and was banned from driving for two years, terms which will begin upon his release from prison.

He admitted dangerous driving in connection with an incident in while on the run in 2015, during which he led police on a high-speed chase through Liverpool before crashing into a roundabout – leaving his female passenger with serious injuries.

Maria Corr, senior crown prosecutor in the Crown Prosecution Service Mersey Cheshire’s complex casework unit, added: “Adam Murphy was one of a gang of determined, organised criminals who would let nothing stand in their way.

“They used powerful explosives to gain access to the cash in these machines with no thought for the possible risks to the people living nearby.

“The conviction of Adam Murphy brings to a successful conclusion a difficult and complex investigation and prosecution involving different police forces and many defendants.

“Adam Murphy continued to try and avoid facing up to what he did until the end.

“He scapegoated his original defence team and sacked them as he tried to think of a different and even more dishonest defence – he claimed that he came under the influence of other members of this gang.

“But all this has proved fruitless and he has now been brought to justice.”