Robber jailed for nine years after post office ram raid

James Hudson, 26, was in a gang led by crime boss Dennis Slade, who was jailed for life earlier this month along with two other men for those and other robbery offences as well as conspiracy to murder following two high security trials.

Hudson, of King Alfred's Drive, Meanwood, Leeds, pleaded guilty to robbery at Crossgates Post Office in Leeds on December 12 and conspiracy to rob cash in transit or cash machines at Sainsbury's store in Colton, Leeds.

Leeds Crown Court heard that in the post office raid a heavy digger was driven into the wall, smashing a hole which allowed a robber wearing a balaclava to terrorise staff inside. The gang got away with boxes containing some stamps but missed 50,000 in an open safe.

Sentencing Hudson yesterday, Judge Paul Hoffman said those involved had not cared about the risk to staff.

Had the assistant branch manager Beverley Robinson not moved from a computer only seconds before the robbery she might have been seriously injured or killed.

He accepted Hudson was not the man who drove the digger or went inside but he had played an essential role outside the premises and later hiding the getaway car:

"The offence itself was meticulously planned, executed with great persistence and ruthlessness and military precision, small wonder as you were all operating as a member of a highly professional criminal gang."

Paul Greaney, prosecuting, said the gang was seen on various dates in December 2007 mounting surveillance around the supermarket and it was believed they planned to steal a 400,000 cash-in- transit delivery that month but for some reason did not go ahead.

The following month a hole was made through the roof and a wall weakened, ready to get into the room where staff filled cash machines but the plot was foiled when a member of staff heard drilling.

Philip Tully for Hudson said he was seen on four days over a three-week period dropping people off or giving lifts. His role at Crossgates was to take some property away from the scene and hide the getaway car.

"His remorse is genuine and he was plainly influenced by his three co-defendants."