Video: Crime baron and his 'loyal henchmen' jailed for life

Crime boss Dennis Slade, 34, was also barred from accessing the

internet or having a mobile phone in prison in an attempt to stop him running any illegal activities from behind bars.

Jailing Slade and his "loyal henchmen" Richard Pearman and Michael Baxter yesterday at Leeds Crown Court, Judge Paul Hoffman said they were in the "premier league of crime" but there was a hierarchy between them.

"You, Slade, called the shots, you are the instigator, the catalyst, the man who paid the wage, got others to do much of the dirty work, incurring minimal risk and hands-on only when it suited you."

But he said the others willingly took orders from him, even if one of them had complained of Slade's meanness.

"You three were an inseparable trio of hard-core criminal gang members and all enthusiastically committed to the same criminal enterprises."

The gang's crimes over a three -year period included the robbery of a Securitas van near Warrington in 2006 which netted them over 1m, using a digger to ram raid Crossgates Post Office in Leeds in 2007 which the judge said could have killed or injured staff inside, and conspiracy to rob cash deliveries or cash machines at Sainsbury's, Colton, Leeds in 2008.

All three were found guilty after a trial last year of conspiracy to murder.

Judge Hoffman said he was satisfied the target was another criminal, Ralph Roberts, and it was only because a gun jammed on one occasion outside a pub and the intervention of the police on another that they had not succeeded.

It was no mitigation the intended victim was another criminal "because internecine warfare between rival gangs will not be tolerated in a civilised society."

Having deducted time spent on remand he ordered Slade, the "architect and co-ordinator" of the murder plan to serve a minimum of 19 years, 206 and a half days in jail before he can apply for parole, adding he would only be released when "deemed safe."

Pearman and Baxter were each ordered to serve a minimum of 17 years 206 and a half days in jail.

The sentences followed two high-security trials which saw Slade transported with an armed police escort and firearms officers outside the courtroom.

In addition to conspiracy to murder, the first jury found Slade, 34, of Sandmoor Drive, Alwoodley, Leeds, guilty of criminal damage, handling a stolen car and arson. The second jury found him guilty of conspiracy to rob cash in transit deliveries and Sainsbury's and robbery of Crossgates Post Office and the van near Warrington.

As he was led from the dock surrounded by prison guards he shouted: "It would have been nice to get a fair trial, we'll see what the Court of Appeal says."

Pearman, 35, of Sherburn Approach, Swarcliffe, Leeds was also convicted of the same offences by the two juries.

Baxter, 34, of Pennyfield Close, Meanwood, Leeds, was convicted of the same four offences at the first trial. He was found guilty at the second trial of the Securitas van robbery having admitted both robbery conspiracies and the robbery at Crossgates Post Office.

A fourth man, James Robert Hudson, 26, of King Alfred's Drive, Meanwood, has admitted the Post Office robbery and conspiracy to rob Sainsbury's and will be sentenced at a later date.

The judge commended officers from West Yorkshire Police and the Serious Organised Crime Agency for their professionalism and skill in the case.