Dale Cregan: The criminal feud that led to four murders Forensic analysis revealed that Evers fingerprints were found on the revolver, with Darren Berkeley's DNA found on the left grip of the firearm. "There's been an increase in criminals robbing other criminals," says DS Connor. Despite the verdict, well-placed underworld sources say Atkinson and his associates will face attempts on their lives as gangsters look to avenge the murders. Manchester City currently find themselves one point clear of Arsenal in the Premier League table, with Pep Guardiola's side also having a game in hand on the Gunners. He bought 15kg of cocaine (from the Cox brothers) unwittingly and then finds himself in caught in the middle of a major dispute between the Cox and the Liverpool gang. They received jail terms between eight and 15 years when they were brought before a judge at Manchester Crown Court. A gangland war is set to erupt over the murders of Mark and David Short. The Short family and the Atkinson family were both known to be involved in drug and gang violence, and long-standing tension reached a boiling point in May of 2012. An additional gang member, Elliot Cummings was identified by facial recognition experts. Casemiro was back to his best for Man Utd in their win against Aston Villa in the Premier League and Erik ten Hag has given his verdict on the holding midfielder. The prosecutor suggested it was "more than that" and that he suffered a broken jaw first after being struck with the butt of a sawn-off shotgun. Dave dragged him by his hair kicking and screaming. Atkinson, Marsden and Ghafar all admitted conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and conspiracy to transfer criminal property. Something went wrong, please try again later. He said he had known both David Short and Cregan for "a very long time". Explore in 3D: The dazzling crown that makes a king. DNA which was found on a cap left at the scene of the second kidnapping is matched to another man, who has a long history of violence and armed robbery. "There's lots of kidnappings and it has got worse - the violence has escalated," she says. Now you can see what I mean when I say he was a respected man. In one attack, an Atkinson associate nearly killed David after stabbing him six times. Prosecutor Alex Langhorn told the court how the gang who stole the cocaine quickly began selling off the cocaine haul to other criminals in Manchester after the raid. The talking points as Manchester City took on Fulham at Craven Cottage as the title race with Arsenal reaches the final stages of the season. Its a lot harder to catch people at the top. This gang basically force their way into a house and force them to assist them with a murder.. The victim is taken to a house in Denton where he is tortured for 25 hours before a ransom of 34,000 is paid. "2018 was a very hot summer. "I had him a fight at that time. Simon Atkinson - Wikipedia Greater Manchester Police and the North West Regional Crime Unit later arrested the main participants in the conspiracy. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Darren Berkeley was convicted of blackmail for his part in the first kidnap. Casemiro was back to his best for Man Utd in their win against Aston Villa in the Premier League and Erik ten Hag has given his verdict on the holding midfielder. The owner heard this and told Danny to go out. Leon Atkinson, 35, was accused of plotting revenge on the Short family after a man slapped his mother Theresa during a boozy pub row. The Shorts and Atkinsons war began more than a decade ago when Frank Atkinson allegedly threatened to kill Davids brother John only to be shot a few weeks later. 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Cregan 'lives in fear after gangster offers 20k for remaining EYE' People are scared of him', Police release CCTV images of man they want to speak to after young girl sexually assaulted, Officers were called to reports of a girl being sexually assaulted near Lees Valley yesterday (April 29), A child-killer, a Strangeways protester and an armed robbery gang: locked up in April. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Nevin, who was not involved in the raid at the stash house, was jailed for nine years and nine months. The court also heard that one of Nevin's customers was annoyed about the use of the 'Man City' password because he was a Manchester United fan. Leon Atkinson led a gang involved in drug deals worth 9m in just three months, Greater Manchester Police said. Smiling, having a few beers in the garden during the first lockdown. DCI Hopkinson stressed that it was rare for gang violence to cross over into ordinary lives. Without further evidence, the team are forced to bail him, but they suspect the gang may be planning more attacks across the city. Atkinson and three others were found not guilty of the murder of Mark Short. After the handover Atkinson was back in touch and said he wanted to buy another seven kgs of drugs. "Moss side, Salford, Fallowfield, Cheetham Hill. The chilling murder of dad-of-two Luke Graham features in tonights episode of BBC2s The Detectives: Fighting Organised Crime, and highlights the brutal and brazen violence plaguing the streets of the city. Manchester United took a big step towards securing Champions League football for next season after notching a 1-0 victory over Aston Villa at Old Trafford on Sunday. Callum Halpin is still on the run. Atkinson, of Brindley Close, Atherton, Marsden, of Taunton Avenue, Rochdale, and Ghafar, of Halifax Road, Nelson, all admitted conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and conspiracy to transfer criminal property. The four men have pleaded guilty to drug offences and possessing criminal property. After months on the run, Cregan lured Pc Nicola Hughes, 23, and Pc Fiona Bone, 32, with a bogus burglary report before he opened fire on the unarmed and unsuspecting officers, then using his "calling card" by throwing a hand grenade at the stricken victims. Image caption, Organised crime is one of our top priorities at GMP and we continue to do all we can to rid our streets of drugs, gangs and violence that tear communities apart.. That led to the death of Mark Short in the Cotton Tree in Droylsden and was then followed three months later by a fatal gun and grenade assault on the victim's father, David. This is a dangerous gang who have killed someone already.. Nevin joked with Atkinson that the customer had been left 'fuming.'. He was known for only having one eye, although the circumstances surrounding his injury remain unclear. The talking points as Manchester City took on Fulham at Craven Cottage as the title race with Arsenal reaches the final stages of the season. Minutes later three men in balaclavas burst into the same house and threatened the occupant - a drug addict known as Peanut - telling him they would shoot his kneecaps unless he called Anton and lure him back to the house. asked the prosecutor. 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"These people are either very dangerous or very reckless.". David Short wanted to seek revenge for his sons death, and made multiple threats against Cregans family, including threatening to rape his son and sister, so Cregan went to Thailand for a few weeks. Through tracking Coxs phone, and cross referencing with CCTV, the unit finds he changed his clothes shortly before the attack to those similar to the gunman. The team suspect this location could be where the torture took place, and police are given a warrant to search the property on Mancunian Road in Denton. Judge Patrick Field QC told Monks-Gorton that although he was not involved in planning the raid he 'facilitated entry to the house' by posing as a delivery driver. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. For more stories like this, check our news page. 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This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. The first episode of 'The Detectives: fighting organised crime' aired on Tuesday night, and focuses on the horrific kidnapping and torture of two men in November and December 2018. At the end of the day he was a dad and his son had been murdered. Prime witness Peanut - tracked down after fleeing the Birch Street address - claimed he didnt recognise any of the men and DS Connor says fear would stop him identifying the killers. The talking points as Manchester City took on Fulham at Craven Cottage as the title race with Arsenal reaches the final stages of the season. The crackdown was part of Operation Venetic, which has targeted criminals using the EncroChat messenger and is the UKs biggest ever law enforcement operation. Police confirmed 12kg of Class A and 25kg of Class B drugs, and more than 300,000 of assets including luxury jewellery and vehicles had also been taken off the street. "You seem to know more than me," said Atkinson. Distributors Adam Marsden, 37, and Nathan Powell, 31, sourced and supplied over six stone (40kg) of cocaine between them. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. When Dave heard that Danny had slapped a friend of our sister, he came and said to the three doormen that were standing there, If you dont go and get Mason to come outside, I am coming in and going through all of you.. How smiling beer pic helped snare cocaine boss who thought he was 'We estimate Atkinson has been head of an organised crime group for the last ten years', Sign up for our daily newsletter to get the day's biggest stories sent direct to your inbox. [It] was sent from his device to a leading member of another drugs gang, which prompted confirmation that he was behind the nicknames Carrothorn/Maidenbear and thus heading the drug conspiracy.. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. But a jury cleared him off all charges. "It's just absolutely awful that there were children playing in the street while this happened. Casemiro was back to his best for Man Utd in their win against Aston Villa in the Premier League and Erik ten Hag has given his verdict on the holding midfielder. 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Five months after the first kidnap and after several weeks on the run, Darren Berkeley handed himself into police. atkinson family manchester gangsters DCI Alan Clitherow tells the team, based at Nexus House, the force's serious and organised crime HQ in Ashton, that four men had forced their way into the house through the back door. Leon Atkinson hit David Short in the face in 2001 for "looking at him", the jury heard during the 12-week trial, creating a simmering tension between the two east Manchester families. "The gangs in Manchester still have their roots from the gangs that were around in the 80s and 90s," says DS Connor. May bank holiday Monday opening times for Aldi, ASDA, Tesco, Lidl, M&S, Morrisons and Sainsbury's, Supermarket opening and closing hours for early sping bank holiday Monday, May 1, Man City's next six Premier League fixtures compared with Arsenal ahead of West Ham clash. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. 'It was crazy': Residents wake to 'almighty bang' and sirens following 'serious' crash on main road, One person was taken to hospital following the five-vehicle crash on Sunday morning (April 30), "My house looked like it had been burgled after my marriage broke down - now I help other hoarders clear out their clutter", Janine McDonald's house became cluttered after she lost her job and her marriage broke down, forcing her to live on just 800 a month. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. He was described in court as a 'regional' cocaine supplier who sold on drugs imported into the UK by a contact. FlickrDale Cregan in court, surrounded by police officers. DCI Liz Hopkinson, who headed up the investigation into 31-year-old Lukes murder, was shocked at the recklessness of the killers. Manchester United took a big step towards securing Champions League football for next season after notching a 1-0 victory over Aston Villa at Old Trafford on Sunday. One woman interviewed, who names Cox as the killer, is heard refusing to give a statement for fear of reprisals. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. If you dont, theres someone else out there who is willing to pull the trigger and participate in that kind of crime.. Simon Atkinson is a British architect, currently the Mike Hogg Centennial Professor in Community and Regional Planning at University of Texas at Austin and Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. Nevin joked that the customer had been left 'fuming.'. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. The team ascertain that the victim was kidnapped and tortured for almost a day, until a ransom was paid. Read about our approach to external linking. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Mohammed Ali, 32, from Chadderton, denies assisting an offender. He claimed to have lost it in a brawl in Thailand, although some authorities speculate that it may have really been removed with a knife under unknown circumstances. But dad Atkinson, who stood trial for . He was convicted of false imprisonment and blackmail for the first kidnap. Warring members of the Short and Atkinson families held peace talks at Manchester's Arndale Centre in 2008, the trial has heard. Thats two members of a prominent family taken out. A six shooter. The killer of an eight-year-old girl, a Strangeways protester and an armed robbery gang are among the serious criminals who were locked up in Greater Manchester in April. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, Birch Street, in Ashton-Under-Lyne, where the murder took place in broad daylight, Luke Graham was shot dead on June 13 2018, Police arrive on the scene after the shooting, DS Julie Connor says gang violence has got worse since the 90s, Wade Cox was suspected of being in same gang as Dale Cregan, Cregan killed a father and son before murdering the two female officers, Cregan's victims Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes were lured with a 999 call, Wade Cox was arrested and questioned for the murder, Jordan 'Charlie' Atkinson was jailed for eight years, Connor Cornforth took phones away to help with alibis, Jack West was found guilty of assisting an offender, Manchester cops reveal brutal kidnapping in BBC2's The Detectives: Fighting Organised Crime, The Detectives: Inside brutal Manchester turf war with dad shot 5 times on a quiet street as kids of 4 played nearby, Striking train drivers earning 60,000 accused of 'cultural vandalism' by 'targeting' Eurovision and FA Cup, One man dead and seven men and women injured as knifeman goes on bloody rampage near nightclub in Bodmin, Girl, 4, 'assaulted by drunk man' in Tesco as cops appeal to find hero who stepped in to help, Explosion rocks London street as flat above chicken shop blows up in suspected gas blast leaving three injured, Keir Starmer faces awkward questions in Commons over secret talks to poach Sue Gray, WHSmith shoppers stunned at eye-watering 15 price tag for a bag of Cadbury Mini Eggs - three weeks after Easter, ISIS terror leader Abu Hussein al-Qurashi killed by Turkish 'intelligence operation' in Syria, Erdogan says, Over 99% of thefts do not end in a charge - even when victims track stolen phone, shocking stats reveal, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). Cregan admits the murders of the officers but continues to deny the murders of the Shorts. When Manchester was known as Gunchester. If Wade Cox knew Id said that he would probably kill me, she says. Gangsters had 'Manchester City' meeting after stealing 1m in coke from He used to be a doorman and was fearless. The court heard that the criminals involved in the handover used the password 'Man City' for the meeting. Leon Atkinson, 43, from Atherton, convicted of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs. It is alleged that Cregan and four others acted on the orders of Leon Atkinson, 35, to shoot a rival family in a pub in Droylsden, Manchester, last May. Nevin, 35, who worked as a courier for the Cox gang, had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine, conspiracy to supply cannabis and conspiracy to possess criminal property. You were hounding my family so I took it out on yous. Gangland war expected in Manchester over Dale Cregan killings "Mothers told of their fears for their children who were playing innocently in the street.". asked Mr Clarke. Atkinson replied: "My father got shot 10 years ago in the leg. The two policewomen who responded to Cregans fake call, and ended up murdered. "How is his knee?" Wade Cox was convicted of murder and given a 36 year sentence. Mr Langhorn described how Nevin arranged to sell drugs to Leon Atkinson in the Openshaw area of Manchester. "I had a fight with one of their nephewstwo of their nephews. Text is available under the . Atkinson, of Wigan, was jailed for 15 years at Manchester Crown Court. ", "He said it was mistaken identity," said the defendant. He retaliated by slapping her, and this infuriated Atkinson, who texted her son Leon, demanding that they seek revenge on the Short family. Police catch druglord after he sends grinning mugshot to gangsters "Moss side, Salford, Fallowfield, Cheetham Hill. May bank holiday Monday opening times for Aldi, ASDA, Tesco, Lidl, M&S, Morrisons and Sainsbury's, Supermarket opening and closing hours for early sping bank holiday Monday, May 1, Man City's next six Premier League fixtures compared with Arsenal ahead of West Ham clash. Atkinson then sent a 'mate' to meet Nevin near Manchester City's training ground in East Manchester. "Mainly organised criminals largely target people of a similar stature - they are not going after members of the public. Detective Chief Inspector, Roger Smethurst, of GMP, commenting on the picture Atkinson sent Jason Cox, said: "He became so confident in the security of these devices that they became very blas about using them. Don't miss a thing! With drug use on the rise, and organised crime gangs (OCGs) battling to keep their slice of the takings, bitter turf wars have broken out across Manchester. On a hot sunny day in June 2018, just before 5pm, drug dealer Luke Graham and his associate Anton Verigota dropped some crack and heroin at a house in Birch Street, Ashton-Under-Lyne, and drove away in a silver van. Atkinson denied his father was in a wheelchair for "a long time" and said he was unaware that he had needed a replacement knee. Manchester United took a big step towards securing Champions League football for next season after notching a 1-0 victory over Aston Villa at Old Trafford on Sunday. But his phone records show he was several miles away when Luke died. (back row left to right) Jermaine Ward, Luke Livesey, Ryan Hadfield, (middle row left to right:) Leon Atkinson, Francis Dixon, Anthony Wilkinson and (front row left to right:) Dale Cregan, Damian Gorman, Matthew James, Mohammed Ali. If someone else tries to muscle in on that, they will do everything possible to stop that. Dale Cregan was found guilty of four counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder, and subsequently sentenced to life in prison. Police believe Atkinson was aware the cocaine had been taxed from other criminals but did not know it had been stolen from such a potent Merseyside firm. 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