Published by Robert L Senior Reporter on Tuesday 11th March 2025, at 23:20hrs
Four men who attempted to rob an ATM at Lancaster railway station in 2019, with one member later carrying out a successful explosive robbery at Berwick-upon-Tweed, have been jailed following a lengthy British Transport Police (BTP) investigation.
Craig Stewart Jepson, 48, Matthew Mark Doyle, 41, Daniel Ashley Grant, 41, and Michael Peter Waine, 42, all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to burgle the ATM at Lancaster station. Jepson also admitted to a second conspiracy to burgle an ATM at Berwick-upon-Tweed.
At Manchester Crown Court on Monday, March 10th, Jepson was sentenced to 11 years in prison for both conspiracies and an additional charge of conspiracy to cause an explosion. Grant, Doyle, and Waine each received three years and four months for their involvement in the Lancaster raid.
The court heard that on October 11, 2019, the four men entered Lancaster station’s booking hall armed with tools, including cutting disks and crowbars, attempting to break into the ATM. After a failed hour-and-a-half attempt, they only managed to damage the machine’s front casing, causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.
They fled empty-handed when a rail worker arrived for their shift.
The bungled attempt left a trail of evidence, including DNA swabs matching Jepson and Waine, and a mobile phone linked to Jepson.
CCTV footage also showed Jepson removing and discarding clothing outside the station.
Later that morning, a suspicious Jepson, soaking wet and covered in mud, was spotted by a passenger on a train.
The passenger alerted BTP, and Jepson was removed from the train at Preston station, initially without being linked to the Lancaster incident.
Further investigation revealed that Waine had purchased metal cutting blades used in the attempted robbery, and his DNA was found on goggles left at the scene.
Jepson, undeterred by the failed attempt, struck again at Berwick-upon-Tweed station on March 4, 2020. He disabled the station’s power supply and used an explosive device to breach the ATM, stealing approximately £100,000.
However, he left a trail of cash and evidence behind, and a vehicle linked to him was later recovered containing ATM parts.
Following extensive investigations, Doyle, Grant, and Waine were arrested in September 2020. Jepson, who had evaded arrest, was finally apprehended in October 2020.
Investigating officer DC Ian Grice praised the “tenacity and hard work” of the team, highlighting the overwhelming evidence that led to the convictions.
He noted Jepson’s “clumsy getaway” following the Berwick explosion, which was hampered by the trail of evidence he left behind.
Sarah Staff, from the British Security Industry Association, commended BTP and Greater Manchester Police for dismantling the criminal gang, emphasizing the importance of collaborative efforts in combating such crimes.
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