A prolific cash-in-transit robbery gang based in Lancashire came unstuck when they tried to strike in West Yorkshire.

Four men have now been jailed for a total of 77 years after their spate of offending came to a shuddering halt when their escape vehicle collided with a bridge and ended up teetering 20ft above a river.

Before their arrests, the gang committed ten armed robberies in just over five weeks, stealing £87,500 during raids.

Detectives investigating the offences, in late 2018 and early 2019, noticed the striking similarities between the offences – such as attacking staff with hammers.

While their exploits in Greater Manchester and Derbyshire had not resulted in arrests, an abrupt stop was put to their offending on Thursday, January 31, 2019.

The arrests came as the men tried to return across the Oennines from an armed robbery at a bank in Halifax. During this robbery, the men stuck to their tried and tested tactics and approached the guard as he was making a delivery of cash at the bank. They attacked the guard with hammers and fled with cash in a car bearing false registration plates. This would be their downfall as, just 10 minutes later, police officers sighted the offending vehicle. In attempt to evade arrest, the car crashed into a bridge in Oldham Road, Ripponden, Calderdale. The men were then detained.

The following men were sentenced at Manchester Crown Court on Friday: Sajjad Hussain, 28, of St James Road, Salford, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison after being found guilty of conspiracy to commit robbery after a trial.

Abubakir Iqbal, 30, of Countess Street, Accrington, has been sentenced to 21 years in prison after being found guilty of conspiracy to commit robbery after a trial.

Shazad Mahmood, 26, Edward Street, Oldham, has been sentenced to 17 years in prison after pleading to of conspiracy to commit robbery.

Anas Khan, 26, of Landseer Street, Oldham, has been sentenced to 21 years in prison after pleading to of conspiracy to commit robbery / money laundering / handling stolen goods.

Detective Seargent Rick Castley, of GMP’s Serious and Organised Crime Group, said: “This was a brazen group of individuals who had no regard for the safety of others as they flouted the law in pursuit for gains.

"I would like to commend the dedicated team who have been committed to this investigation and who today, have seen justice prevail. I hope these prison sentences serve as a stark reminder that we will leave no stone unturned in our investigations.”