Two jailed for bungled ram-raid on supermarket cash machine

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 14 Oct, 15:32 · Archive

Two men fled empty-handed after attempting to break into a Morrisons ATM with a van in Carlisle.

Dean Smith, 33, and Tjay O'Neil, 35, launched a ram-raid on a Morrisons store in Carlisle at about 06:30 on 15 September. They repeatedly drove a vehicle into the wall where the ATM was located, causing substantial damage and breaking the machine open. However, they fled empty-handed after failing to extract any cash despite several attempts.

Smith was driving his own distinctive bright green pick-up truck whilst over the drink-drive limit. O'Neil was wearing an electronic curfew tag at the time, which allowed police to track his movements to the store. Both men wore face coverings during the raid. The burglary caused the store to be evacuated and temporarily closed. Carlisle Crown Court heard the failed burglary was 'perhaps a contender for the least impressive heist in criminal history'.

Both men admitted burglary with intent to steal and damaging property. Smith also admitted dangerous driving and drink-driving. Smith was jailed for 33 months and O'Neil for two years. The vehicle later collided with a police car and failed to stop for Police Scotland officers on the M6 southbound towards the English border at 10:37am.

How it is being reported

• Men jailed for 'least impressive heist' ram-raidThe court hears their crime was "a contender for the least impressive heist in criminal history".BBC Cumbria · 14 Oct, 15:05
• 'Least impressive heist in history' - judge sentences bungling Morrisons ram-raidersTHE JUDGE sentencing two criminals for a bungled ram raid on a Carlisle Morrisons store was told it was a "contender for the least impressive heist in criminal history.”Cumberland News · 14 Oct, 13:07

In this story: Dean Smith · Tjay O'Neil · Morrisons · Carlisle · Carlisle Crown Court

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