Gang behind supermarket burglaries in Dorset are jailed

As reported, Bleu Alford, Callum Knox, Leroy Dashwood and Damian Smith have been sentenced for a combined 26 burglaries across six counties – costing businesses nearly £420k in damages and lost stock.

The four men, all from Southampton, were part of group which targeted supermarkets in Dorset during September and November 2020.

Appearing at Southampton Crown Court on August 2, it was heard the group would travel in convoy using private hire or stolen vehicles on cloned plates and target businesses late at night.

Hampshire Police told the Echo that at around 11.40pm on September 9, 2020, CCTV showed a group of five people entering through the fire exit door of Sainsbury’s in South Street in Wareham.

Sainsbury's in South Street, Wareham. Image: Google Maps

They forced open the cigarette kiosks and stole a large quantity of products.

Just under two months later, at around 3.10am on November 4, a group of six offenders arrived at the Co-Operative store in Ringwood Road, Verwood.

They broke in using tools and were carrying with them two large yellow ‘HIPPO’ bags – often used for waste clearance. Around £10,000 worth of cigarettes were stolen.

Lastly, on November 30, the group attempted to break into the Tesco Express in Ringwood Road in Verwood just after 1am.

The offenders were seen trying to force entry using various tools but were unsuccessful and left the scene empty handed.

Tesco Express in Verwood (Image: Newsquest)

Bleu Alford, 32, was jailed for two years and eight months.

Callum Robert Raymond Knox, 36, was jailed for two years and four months.

Leroy Glen Dashwood, 32, was sentenced to two years imprisonment, suspended for 18 months.

Damian Lee Smith, 42, was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months.

Three other men were sentenced for their part in the conspiracy on June 27.

Detective Constable Paul Beasley, who led the investigation, said: “The group simply believed that they were above the law and would not get caught. Greed got the better of them and justice has now been served with all nine men receiving sanctions as a result of their actions.

“We conducted a fully-through and robust investigation – and [the] result is down to the sheer dedication of my officers, but also the efforts of our investigative counterparts at Surrey Police, Dorset Police, Avon & Somerset Police, Sussex Police and Wiltshire Police.”