Three men from Caerphilly County Borough, who were part of an organised crime group, have been jailed after they set fire to the cars of witnesses due to give evidence against them in court.
Stephen Probert, Damian Winnett, and Cameron Davies all pleaded guilty to conspiring to pervert the course of justice, along with Evan Beman and Callum Mogford.
Probert, 40, of no fixed address but previously of Newbridge, and Davies, 24, of Vine Street, Abercarn, were jailed in April for conspiring to steal cars with Beman, but went to “extreme lengths” to try to stop witnesses from attending court in February, prior to their sentencing, Cardiff Crown Court heard.
Probert, described as the “undoubted ringleader” by Judge Patrick Curran QC on Wednesday September 28, is currently serving a six-year jail term, and Davies a two-year jail term.
Damian Winnett, 22, of Blaen Blodau Street, Newbridge, had no prior convictions.
The court heard how Ms Sandra Thomas, a former partner to Probert and central witness in the original case, was due to give evidence in March when two men, Mogford and Winnett, set fire to a car on the driveway of her Cefn Fforest home at around 10.30pm on March 14.
Ms Thomas shares the house with her partner Jamie Cox – who manages a car dealership in Aberdare which had previously been targeted by the gang – and her two children, and was described by Tim Evans, prosecuting, as “without a doubt a very courageous woman”.
CCTV footage shows Mogford and Winnett, who were “recruited” by the original three defendants, pouring fuel on the car and setting it alight before making off in a car with Davies.
Mr Evans said the previous “dramatic, serious” attack on Cars R Us, in Aberdare was to “terrify” Ms Thomas and Karen Cox, sister to Jamie, who also shares a child with Probert.
A £3,000 Nissan and £4,000 Chevrolet were destroyed, while a £6,000 Citroen, £5,000 Mini and £5,000 Suzuki had their windows smashed and petrol poured inside.
Probert was was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment, Davies to four years, and Winnett three years.
Beman and Mogford were handed six years and three years and eight months respectively.
Probert and Davies’ sentences will run consecutively to their existing sentences.
Gwent Police’s senior investigating officer, Nick Wilkie, said: “This has been a protracted, complex and sometimes distressing investigation into the activities of an organised crime group and the violence, fear and misery they have inflicted.
“The criminal gang would use and threaten violence as part of their criminality in order to intimidate witnesses and prevent them from attending court to give evidence against them.
“Again I would like to thank the witnesses in this case for having the courage to come forward to give evidence after everything they have been through.”