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Man from Wigan jailed over conspiracy to rob drug dealer

Wednesday, July 11th 2012 01:00

Five others also sentenced

A man from Wigan has been jailed for seven years at Liverpool Crown Court this week (Tuesday, July 10) for robbery.
 
John Pownall, aged 51, of Third Street, Bamfurlong in Wigan was sentenced after pleading guilty to conspiring to rob a drug dealer in 2010.

The sentence follows a 18 month-long investigation by officers from Titan (North West Regional Organised Crime Unit) into a group of criminals who conspired to rob a drug dealer from St Helens.

The following were sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on 22nd August 2011 for their roles in the conspiracy:

Newton McKenzie, aged 32yrs, of Medlock Way, in Platt Bridge, Wigan was jailed for six-and-a-half years
Craig Barker, aged 26yrs, of Newlyn Drive, in Ashton-in-Makerfield was jailed for eight years 
John Jones, aged 32yrs, of Silverwell Street, in Bolton was jailed for four-and-a-half years
Lee Fairclough, aged 23yrs, of Leagate Close, in Wigan was jailed for three-and-a-half years 
Otis Smith, aged 23yrs, of no fixed address, was jailed for five years imprisonment

Following the sentencing Detective Superintendent Jason Hudson, Head of Operations for Titan, said: "This sentence sees an organised criminal, who is also known as 'Leggy Pownall', taken off the streets of the North West.

"Our commitment at Titan to bring him to justice has been determined and prolonged.

"His conviction, and those of his associates, of a robbery where they were prepared to rob others criminals of drugs for financial gain sends a powerful message that no-one is untouchable and Titan will continue to work hard to take organised criminals off our streets to make our communities safer for all."
 
Pownall was also convicted of mortgage fraud and under the Proceeds of Crime Act will have his criminally acquired assets stripped.

In sentencing Pownall Judge Aubrey said Pownall was " a ruthless criminal who instigated a well planned, organised robbery which was evidenced by his involvement with a corrupt Merseyside Police Officer........Pownall was the organiser and instigator of the robbery not the executor...... he had an appalling criminal record."

Pownall had previously been featured in a Sunday People story called "Bad Fellas" as one of the North West's top organised criminals.

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