Two police officers who helped bring to justice a violent Salford-based gang which hit cash vans across the North West have been handed commendations by Greater Manchester Police.
Career criminal and Salford gang leader Lee Seddon was jailed in 2015 for his part in a spate of terrifying cash-in-transit robberies across the north of England.
He was finally sentenced to 13 years and two months in prison for plotting raids on vans delivering money to ATMs in Preston, Cleveleys, Stoke-on-Trent and Middlesbrough in 2011 and 2013.
Lee Seddon
But while other members of his gang had been arrested Seddon and his accomplice Phillip Fisher remained on the run.
At one time they were considered the UK’s most wanted men.
37-year-old Seddon was at large for over a year after the Preston robbery and detectives put up a £25,000 reward through BBC Crimewatch in September 2013, but he was finally arrested after a dramatic high-speed police chase through the streets of Bolton.
That day, PC Kitson and PC Kabal spotted two males in a Vauxhall Astra van outside the home of one of Seddon’s associates.
Officers from Lancashire counldn’t help and Greater Manchester Police were hesitant to deploy resources outside of the force.
But they were persuaded by Kitson and Kabal who covertly followed the pair before it ended in a ramraid pursuit.
On 10 February 2014 police intercept officers clocked Seddon’s Vauxhall Astra driving through Over Hulton in rush-hour traffic and pursued him through Bromley Cross and Bradshaw with the National Police Helicopter following above.
Seddon, described as “a clear threat to the public” was eventually boxed in and tried to escape by ramming through two police cars but was stopped and arrested on Folds Road.
Seddon would appear at Preston Crown Court for trial alongside gang members Stephen Farrell, Phillip Fisher, and Jordan Wheeldon.
Seddon’s accomplices, who were all jailed
Farrell, who carried out the robberies while on the run from prison, was handed a 10-year sentence for conspiracy to rob while Fisher was given 12 years for two counts of the same offence.
Wheeldon was sentenced to five years and four months for conspiracy to rob.
Two of the gang, Robert Pinkney, 31 from of Isis Close in Salford, and Michael Bond, 31, from Wythenshawe had been sentenced in December to six years and eight months and 10 years and eight months respectively.
Back in 2003 Lee Seddon, then 26, and Pinkney, 21, were already serving long prison sentences after forming a crime gang dubbed ‘The Fast Car Robbers’.
They had learned their trade by stealing luxury cars and adding cloned number plates to use in armoured vehicle heists.
Police in Lancashire, Teeside and Staffordshire helped with the huge investigation and CCTV and forensic evidence managed to pin them to the violent armed robberies.
At the time of their sentencing Brett Gerrity, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West said: “These men were part of a Salford-based organised crime gang who used sophisticated methods to monitor the movements of cash in transit vans, before striking and stealing substantial amounts of money from terrified staff.
“There is no doubt that they posed a significant risk of serious harm to security staff who were simply going about their daily duties.
“The sentences imposed upon Lee Seddon and the other members of the gang for their participation in the robberies will serve to protect the public and should act as a deterrent to others who see high value robbery as a career choice.”
Chief Constable Ian Hopkins said: “PC Kitson and PC Kabal showed tremendous dedication and professionalism in their relentless pursuit of Seddon and Fisher.
“Their tenacity meant the two offenders were captured, ensuring the public were kept safe from these criminals”.
“Both officers went beyond what is expected in pursuit of two dangerous and prolific criminals. They demonstrated exemplary tenacity and leadership and worked long hours. I am proud to award them with a Chief Constable’s commendation.”
PC Kabal said: “Lee Seddon and Phillip Fisher struck fear into innocent members of the public during their violent and prolific crime spree.
“Once we became aware of Seddon and Fisher and the violent offences they were committing, we were determined not to give up the hunt for them until they were behind bars.
“We’re watching, we will find you wherever you go and we will not give up until you have been brought to justice.”
