Moment crooks use makeshift explosive to blow up cash machine in blast that left them penniless is revealed as they are jailed for total of 12 years
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A pair of hapless crooks, who failed to steal a single penny after using homemade explosives to try and blow up two cash machines, have been jailed.
Bungling Jamie Masters, 34, and Wayne Lewis, 42, were caught on CCTV detonating a gas canister at an ATM – with video of the blast having now been released by police.
Their makeshift bomb was attached to a gas canister and created a huge blast when it detonated, causing thousands of pounds of damage to the ATM in Witham, Essex.
But the explosion failed to open the cash compartment of the machine and the pair walked away with nothing during their 2am attempt on March 22, last year.
Weeks later on April 11, the duo tried to destroy a second ATM at Tesco in Laindon, Essex. But this time they failed to blow up the gas canister and instead caused a ‘firework-like explosion’ that left the machine intact and inaccessible, police said.
Bungling Jamie Masters, 34, and Wayne Lewis, 42, were caught on CCTV detonating a gas canister at an ATM – with video of the blast having now been released by police
Wayne Lewis, left, and Jamie Masters, right, have now been jailed for their double ATM raid, which caused about £100,000 in damage
The pair’s explosive antics caused £100,000 of damage. And yesterday at they were sentenced Southend Crown Court, Essex, to a combined 12 years for their crimes.
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Police added that neither of the men had any knowledge of explosives and that their actions had put themselves and the public at risk.
Detective Inspector Frazer Low, of the Essex Police serious and organised crime unit, said: ‘More than anything else, the actions of Lewis and Masters were incredibly dangerous.
‘It was dangerous to themselves, to anyone who was nearby and to the property they were targeting.
‘Neither had the knowledge or skills to control explosions and they put the safety of the public – and themselves – at significant risk.’
The pair admitted causing a total of £100,000 damage and were sentenced for conspiracy to burgle and conspiracy to cause an explosion with intent to endanger life or property.
The duo were caught on April 11, 2022 (pictured), trying to blow up a second cash machine. But on this occasion, they failed to detonate their gas cannister and once again were forced to leave the scene penniless
Masters, from Romford, Essex, was given six years and eight months in jail while Lewis, from Woodford Green, London, was sentenced to six years. The pair are pictured at the scene of their first botched raid on March 22, 2022
Masters, from Romford, Essex, was given six years and eight months in jail while Lewis, from Woodford Green, London, was sentenced to six years.
DI Low added: ‘Despite their actions, they left each scene without a penny so their actions really were in vain.
‘Thankfully, our team was able to act quickly to identify them, arrest them and build a case so overwhelming that they had very little option but to admit their guilt.’
