Corby ram-raid gang put behind bars

The owners of a shop were left thousands of pounds out of pocket after a gang of Corby man ram-raided it.
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Roger Clarke, Richard Flecknor and Ross Laird are now in the slammer after they smashed their way into the Budgens in North Street East in Uppingham in neighbouring Rutland.

At about 4am on June 26, 2018, the trio were in a small dark-coloured car when they made their way towards the shop, which is attached to a petrol station in the centre of the market town.

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They then rammed into the front of it, smashing the door, and two of the gang went in as the third stayed in the car.

Clarke (top left), Laird (top right), Flecknor (bottom left) and the damage to the Budgens.Clarke (top left), Laird (top right), Flecknor (bottom left) and the damage to the Budgens.
Clarke (top left), Laird (top right), Flecknor (bottom left) and the damage to the Budgens.

During the raid alcohol and cigarettes worth about £400 were stolen and the incident caused the shop owners an additional loss of £23,856.97.

The same day Clarke (40), Flecknor (32) and Laird (40) broke into Oundle Pharmacy in Oundle's Market Place.

The next morning they were all arrested in Corby and questioned by detectives before being charged with one count of burglary and one of burglary with intent to steal.

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The trio were all convicted and sentenced at Northampton Crown Court on Monday (January 20).

The damage to the shop front.The damage to the shop front.
The damage to the shop front.

Judge Michael Fowler jailed Clarke, of Equity Road in Leicester but formerly of Corby, to 35 months in prison for the burglaries.

He was subject to a suspended sentence at the time of the ram-raid and was handed an extra five months, making his total sentence 40 months in jail.

Flecknor, now of HMP Woodhill but formerly of James Watt Avenue in Corby, was jailed for a total of 33 months.

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And the distinctive career criminal Laird, who gave his address as Spinney Road in Weldon but used to live in Corby's Westminster Walk, was also jailed for 33 months.

Ross LairdRoss Laird
Ross Laird

They were all told they must pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £170 each but no compensation order was made.

The owners of the independently-owned Budgens store have been contacted for comment.