South Yorkshire gang members who thought they were '˜above law' jailed for more than 33 years

A South Yorkshire Police spokesman said the ‘Pitsmoor Shotta Boys’ gang who operated in Mexborough believed they “ruled the roost and were above the law.”

Nine members of the gang were jailed at Sheffield Crown Court after admitting offences including violent disorder, drug possession, witness intimidation and robbery.

A tenth man, who failed to appear at the sentencing hearing, was jailed for four years in his abscence.

Chief Inspector Gwyn Thomas of Doncaster Police, said: “This result is great news and I am very pleased, more so for the residents in Mexborough who have had to endure these individuals and their violent and abhorrent behaviour in the town.

“They brought absolute misery to the community, and I can only hope this offers some reassurance to the public, and highlights how determined and committed we are to bring anyone involved in criminality to justice.

“I want to reassure our Mexborough residents however, that as pleased as we are with this result, we will be continuing our efforts in the town, deploying extra patrols and providing a high visibility police presence in the area, as well as conducting various operations over the coming months.”

Three investigations last year led to nine men and one woman being charged with a number of offences.

Nine of the ten charged, changed their pleas to guilty on the day their trial was due to start last month.

Luke Blakemore, 22, Chad Hatton, 19, and Kieran Blakemore, 20, were all arrested for drugs offences on January 26, 2015, when a warrant was executed at Hatton’s address on Schofield Street in Mexborough and they were found in possession of class A and class B drugs.

On February 7, 2015, John Gilliver, 27, Joshua Roddis, 21, Lyndon Atkinson, 34, Stephanie Oldfield, 25 and Lewis Roberts, 20, were involved in a violent incident at The Montague Arms pub in Mexborough.

They used weapons including bottles, pool balls and golf clubs to damage the premise and cause fear and violence.

The third incident involved Luke Blakemore, Roddis, Ryan Taylor, 23 and Shaun Chamberlain, 30, who were all charged with a robbery they committed on September 10 last year.

Gilliver was charged with witness intimidation in connection to the incident.

They followed a man to his home address in Mexborough and forced him to hand over his car keys and log book, threatening him with violence from the ‘gang’ if he did not comply, and then stole his car.

Luke Blakemore, of Laburnun Road, Mexborough, was jailed for 13-and-a-half-years after admitting for robbery and three charges of possession with intent to supply class A drugs

Chad Hatton, of Schofield Street, Mexborough, was jailed for four-and-a-half-years for possession with intent to supply class A drugs

John Gilliver, of Schofield Street, Mexborough, was sentenced to three-years-and-eight-months after admitting violent disorder and witness intimidation

Joshua Roddis, of Schofield Street, Mexborough, was jailed for three-years-and-six-months after admitting robbery and violent disorder

Ryan Taylor of Schofield Street, Mexborough, admitted robbery and was jailed for two-years-and-six-months.

Kieran Blakemore, of Schofield Street, Mexborough, was sentenced to nine-months in prison, suspended for 18 months, after admitting possession of a class B drug

Stephanie Oldfield, of Schofield Street, Mexborough, was handed a four-month jail sentence, suspended for two years, after admitting violent disorder

Lewis Roberts, of Hawthorne Crescent, Mexborough,was handed a four-month sentence, suspended for 12-months, after admitting violent disorder

Lyndon Atkinson, of Hunger Hill Road, Whiston, was sentenced to three-months suspended for 12-months after admitting violent disorder

The tenth man, Shaun Chamberlain, of Cumberland way in Bolton-on-Dearne, failed to appear at court.

He was found guilty and sentenced in is abscence to four years in prison.

Chief Inspector Thomas said: “Chamberlain is a wanted man and it has been made very clear in court that when we arrest him, and we will, an additional sentence will be handed to him, on top of the four years, for failing to appear.

“All of those sentenced, with the exception of Roberts, have also been served with Criminal Behaviour Orders for three years, meaning they must not associate with each other during this time period or they could potentially face further prison sentences.

“I hope this sends a strong and clear message to anyone involved in criminality, or who is thinking about making the reckless decision and becoming involved, to think again, as we will not tolerate it and we will always relentlessly pursue anyone who breaks the law and is a blight on the community.”

JAILED: Pictured in top row (L to R) Joshua Roddis, John Gilliver and Ryan Taylor. Pictured below (L to R) Chad Hatton, Luke Blakemore and Shaun Chamberlain