Manchester men who stole £160k after blowing up ATMs jailed

Two men who stole almost £160,000 after blowing up four cash machines with explosives have been jailed.

Ben Thompson, 35, of Wythenshawe, and Wesley Shepherd, 39, of Sale, were later spotted at Manchester Airport jetting off to Egypt, Spain and Mexico, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said.

Thompson was jailed for 16 years and Shepherd for 14 years and eight months.

In total, the force said they stole almost £160,000 and caused tens of thousands of pounds worth of damage.

Driving stolen cars, they entered four different commercial premises and used explosive devices to access the cash, GMP said.

They also threatened staff with weapons as they went.

Between April and July 2023, the pair attacked four premises - three in Greater Manchester, and one in Staffordshire.

Ben Thompson (left) and Wesley Shephard used explosive devices to access the cash

On 19 September 2023, after witnessing the men in a car together in Sale, armed police moved in to arrest them.

Shepherd and Thompson ditched the car and ran to evade police, discarding a rucksack containing hi-vis vests vests, gloves, a screwdriver, tape, and a smoke flare.

Shortly afterwards, Thompson was arrested on the forecourt of a supermarket in Hulme, and Shepherd was arrested at his mother's house in Northenden.

The men blow up four cash machines with an explosive device

At an earlier hearing, they both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery and cause explosion likely to endanger property and life.

Thompson was handed a 20 year sentence, with 16 years to served in prison and the rest on licence. Shepherd was sentenced to a total of 18 years and eight months of which 14 years and eight months will be served in prison, with the remainder on licence.

Det Sgt Rich McCorry said: "These men had no regard for the safety of the public in their endeavour to make some fast cash.

"This type of behaviour is intolerable and the lasting impact that such an unprovoked attack can have on a victim is huge."

He added: "Following a diligent investigation with specialist colleagues from across Greater Manchester and Staffordshire Police, we were able to link the crimes and now two dangerous, reckless men are behind bars for a long time.

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