R v Burns, Yates & Others
Daniel Rigby, Luke Yates, James Burns and Michelle Neafcy were spared jail despite their pleas to being part of a conspiracy to steal cash from fruit machines on the north Wales coast.
Yates and Burns were defended by Oliver King. Both men had extensive criminal records and had travelled with others from Wigan to caravan parks and pubs along the north Wales coast with the intention of stealing cash from fruit machines inside the premises.
Katy Appleton defended Neafcy and Rigby.
Recorder Simon Mills said he initially thought he’d be sentencing the gang to “inevitable custody”, except for Neafcy who had been “dragged into” the conspiracy.
The judge said he had “listened with care to the mitigation” but that “each one of you can count yourselves incredibly lucky today”.
Rigby was sentenced to 16 months jail suspended for two years and an alcohol supervision requirement
Yates was handed 12 months suspended for two years, as well as a supervision order and 180 hours unpaid work.
Burns was given a 13-month sentence suspended for two years, as well as a supervision order for a specified activity and thinking skills programme.
Neafcy was given six months suspended for 18 months with 120 hours unpaid work.
The case was reported in the Daily Post.
