Nicholas Maxwell

Three men from Preston are part of a gang of four who were jailed for 11 years after a series of audacious raids at supermarkets and stores across the North West.

Nicholas Maxwell, of Royal Drive, Fulwood, Jamie Maxwell of Cambridge Street, Preston and Stephen Bosanko of Elliot Close, Preston all received sentences for their part in break-ins that netted thousands of pounds in cigarettes, golfing equipment and other products.

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The gang, which also included 21-year-old John Horn, began their crime-spree raiding the Booths store on Sharoe Green Lane, Fulwood, on October 21 – stealing over £1,000 worth of tobacco products.

Jamie Maxwell

Lancaster was next up on their list as the Hala Road store was broken into on October 23 and cigarettes, champagne and other merchandise stolen.

The Booths store on Scotland Road, Carnforth, was then targeted and £3,000 of tobacco was stolen on October 31 last year.

The gang then returned to the same Booths store on Sharoe Green Lane to steal another £1,000 of cigarettes on November 17.

Just after Christmas, on December 29, another Booths store on Highfield Road, Blackpool, was targeted and £2,000 worth of stock taken.

The gang went off the radar in January but re-surfaced when cigarettes were stolen from the Windmill service station on Preston New Road, Blackpool on February 16.This was followed two days later with £9,000 of golf clubs and equipment taken from the Paul Walker Golf store in Knott End.

The four men appeared at Liverpool Crown Court yesterday and received the following sentences.

Nicholas Maxwell, 26, received three years for his involvement in the raids at the golf shp, petrol station and attempted break-in at Hesketh Bank.

Jamie Maxwell, 21, was jailed for two years for raids in Lancaster, Carnforth, Blackpool and Heskth Bank.

Stephen Bosanko

Stephen Bosanko, 31, was jailed for three years for his involvement in the Lancaster, Fulwood and Hesketh Bank raids.

John Horn, received three years in jail for the Fulwood, Lancaster, Carnforth raids and attempted break-in at Hesketh Bank.

Detective Sergeant Simon Balderstone, of Lancaster police, said: “These four men were responsible for a number of break-ins that saw high value amounts of tobacco and other products being stolen from local businesses across the county. One particular business was repeatedly targeted and this would no doubt have had a knock on effect for the company and its staff.”