Two men have been sentenced to prison after a bungled attempt to blow up two ATMs in Essex caused more than £100,000 worth of damage but resulted in no stolen cash. Essex Police’s serious and organised crime unit acted quickly to catch Jamie Masters and Wayne Lewis red-handed and bring them to justice.
The pair targeted ATMs located outside banks at Newlands Centre in Witham and outside Tesco on Mandeville Way in Laindon. Their reckless actions caused significant damage but failed to yield any money.
The first incident occurred just after midnight on March 22, 2022, when CCTV footage showed Masters and Lewis placing a gas canister against the ATM in Witham. They attempted to ignite a makeshift explosive device. Although the blast caused extensive damage to the premises, it did not grant them access to any cash.
On April 11, the men struck again near the Tesco ATM in Laindon. CCTV captured them planting another gas canister, but this time the explosive failed to detonate properly, making only a firework-like pop. Once again, no money was stolen.
Essex Police reviewed CCTV footage and conducted early morning raids on April 29, 2022, to apprehend the suspects. Jamie Masters, aged 34 from Romford, and Wayne Lewis, aged 42 from Woodford Green, were charged with conspiracy to burgle and causing explosions with intent to endanger life or property. Both men pleaded guilty to the charges.
At Southend Crown Court on March 21, Masters was sentenced to six years and eight months in prison, while Lewis received a six-year sentence.
Detective Inspector Frazer Low stated, “Their actions were incredibly dangerous — risking lives and property with no know-how to control explosions. They endangered the public and themselves. Luckily, they left with nothing. Our team acted fast to nab them, and the evidence left them no way out but to admit guilt.”
Originally published by UKNIP.
