Off on yet another holiday funded by ATM raids

Armed robbers' £160k crime haul

- NEAL KEELING

SWAGGERING through Manchester Airport in sunglasses, wearing a fashion tracksuit and man-bag, Ben Thompson is en route to another holiday.

He is pictured in all black at the airport with Wesley Shepherd, who is sporting a palm tree design on his yellow T-shirt. Once again the duo were heading for sun and sea.

The pair were partners in crime and their trips to Malaga, Mexico and Egypt were financed by blowing up cash machines and terrorising staff and customers in the process. In four attacks they bagged £160,000. The spree began in April last year when they struck twice and continued until July.

But they were snared after Thompson's baseball cap was blown off his head in one of the attacks leaving behind vital evidence behind.

Driving stolen cars, the men would enter the premises armed and threaten the staff, before placing an explosive device into the machine, in an attempt to gain access to cash. They attacked four commercial premises, three in Greater Manchester, and a final one in Staffordshire. They caused tens of thousands of pounds worth of damage to the businesses.

After stealing the cash, the men were spotted passing through Manchester Airport, jetting off to Malaga, Egypt, and Mexico. But their short-lived high life soon came to an end on Tuesday, September 19, when police caught up with them.