Burglars rammed telehandler through shop in failed cash machine raid

Two burglars who stole a telehandler and rammed it into a family-run convenience store as they sought to steal a cash machine have been jailed.

John Charles and Reuben Reynolds used the hydraulic lifting machine to knock through a wall at Spar in Wesley Road, Retford, at approximately 3.20am on 14 March last year.

Nottingham Crown Court heard the pair were left “disappointed” when they found the cash machine was empty.

The ram raid – which caused £40,000 worth of damage – activated an alarm and the men fled in a white van with false plates.

Officers located them a short time later at a house in Welbeck Road, Retford. Following their arrests, inquiries found they also carried out a burglary at a Retford pub in which a large quantity of cash was stolen on 3 March 2023.

Charles, 50, and Reuben, 42, initially denied they were involved in the incidents but later entered guilty pleas after Nottinghamshire Police discovered text messages between the pair that proved they had planned the incidents.

A bolt-cutter and crowbar were also discovered during searches of their home addresses.

John Charles (left) and Ruben Reynolds have been jailed

Outlining the case, prosecutors said the crime spree began on 25 February 2023 at the same Spar store they went on to target with the telehandler.

A member of the public called 999 after spotting them trying to force open a roller shutter. The alarm was triggered and the offenders – who wore face coverings and had tools and a torch – ran off empty-handed.

Six days later, the pair forced entry to a flat above The Vine Inn, in Churchgate, Retford, and stole a bread bin that contained £1,000 in banknotes, before fleeing in a car with false plates.  

Almost a fortnight later, they returned to the Spar shop and repeatedly drove a stolen telehandler into the premises, leaving glass, masonry and stock sprawled over the shop floor.

Officers arrived within three minutes of an alarm company informing police of the break-in.

Charles and Reynolds – who have both served prison sentences for burglary in the past – were tracked down and detained, with Reynolds assaulting a police officer as he resisted arrest.

At a sentencing hearing today (15 August), the court heard the Spar store had been run by the same family for almost 30 years.

In a victim impact statement, the owner of the shop said: “Nothing prepares you for the emotional feeling of turning up to seeing a telehandler and a huge hole through the side of your store.

“On the 14th of March these awful individuals put at risk 26 years of a family’s work. They also put at risk an amenity that the local community relies on.”

The statement added: “The total amount to repair the damage was £39,717.64. My accountant believes I have lost a potential further £27,818.93 in business interruption costs. This would mean a total cost of £67,686.57. The problem we’ve had is some of this can’t be recovered from our insurance.

“To add insult to injury our insurance premium has gone up by 200% since this incident. This will also affect all our other stores so it will probably add an extra £10,000 to £15,000 every year to our balance sheet for the foreseeable future.”

Charles, of Welbeck Road, Retford, pleaded guilty to attempted burglary, burglary, aggravated vehicle taking and burglary with intent to steal. In mitigation, his defence counsel said a deterioration in his health had seen him become addicted to crack cocaine – a habit that left him with a “significant” debt that saw him turn to crime.  

Reynolds, of College Close, Newark, pleaded guilty to the same charges and both men were jailed for four years.

Charles received an additional one-month custodial sentence, which will be served consecutive to the four-year jail term, for an unrelated case in which he was found to have possessed nunchucks in a public place on 27 March this year.

Reynolds was given a further seven-day sentence, also to be served consecutively, for assaulting a police officer as he resisted arrest.  

Judge Nirmal Shant KC told Charles and Reynolds their raid on the Spar store had involved “significant planning” and caused “extensive damage”.

She said: “I have read the owner’s statement with care and it’s right to say he’s been utterly affected by what you did on that night and will remain affected for many years.

“To describe him as heartbroken is putting it mildly.”

Following the sentencing, PC Liam O’Kane, of Nottinghamshire Police, said:

“These are appalling crimes and the bearing they’ve had on hardworking and law-abiding victims should not be underestimated.

“The ram raid on the Spar store had a particularly terrible impact on a family who – through no fault of their own – have been forced to endure a huge amount of stress and financial hardship as a result of this shocking burglary.

“Charles and Reynolds had absolutely no thought for any of their victims and I have no doubt they would have continued to target other innocent and hardworking people had we not stopped them.

“I am glad they have now been brought to justice and will spend a lengthy time in jail.”