FOUR members of an organised crime gang which used highly explosive gas to blow up cash machines have been jailed for more than 25 years.

Mitchell Barnes, Wade Gwyther, Kyle Joyner and Matthew Parsons plotted a series of ATM attacks during April and May last year.

Among the attacks they were responsible for were ones at the Co-Op on Dragon Road, Winterbourne on May 5 and at Tesco Express on Station Road, Yate on May 11.

The explosions the gang carried out in the attacks blew up the shop frontages leaving the buildings in ruins.

Prior to the attack in Yate, a car was stolen in Portishead before being used in a ram raid of a garage in Clevedon in which gas canisters were stolen.

Barnes and Joyner admitted charges of conspiracy to cause explosions while Gwyther was found guilty following a trial at Bristol Crown Court.

During a hearing on Monday (November 20) the two who admitted their involvement were jailed for five and seven-and-a-half years respectively, while Gwyther was sentenced to 10 years.

Parsons had already been sentenced to five years at a previous hearing.

The 27-year-old was serving a prison sentence at the time of last year’s series but admitted to being involved in the conspiracy by providing instructions to his co-conspirators in phone calls made from his cell.

In total, Parsons has now been jailed for 15 years in prison having also been jailed for another series in 2015.

Detective Chief Inspector Matt Iddon said: “This sentencing of an organised crime gang responsible for blowing up ATMs highlights our success in apprehending criminals determined to do whatever it takes to steal money.

“The arrogance of these men, in particular of Matthew Parsons, meant they thought they could get away with what they were doing. They couldn’t have been more wrong.

“As with the other gangs willing to put lives at risk by using highly explosive gas to attack cashpoints in the Avon and Somerset area, the judge has handed out significant sentences which reflect the nature of their crimes and which I hope act as a further deterrent to others.”

He added: “Since the start of last year, we in Avon and Somerset have been working closely with the ATM industry to make it harder for criminals to steal money from cashpoints.

“More ATMs across the force area have been fitted with equipment designed to stop these kinds of attacks from happening, including armoured plating, while many also now have forensic water dispersal units installed which spray offenders with an indelible liquid.

"These measures either make the cash cassettes harder to access or make it easier to identify those involved in such attacks and I think they have had a noticeable effect.”

Anyone who provides information to Crimestoppers that leads to an arrest and conviction of an individual responsible for an attack on an ATM could receive a reward of up to £25,000.

If you have information you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or fill in an anonymous online form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.