Husband and wife robbers jailed for total of 15 years

Drug addicts Karl and Gaynor McLoughlin, who have four children, embarked on a three day robbery binge to feed their heroin and crack cocaine addiction.

Their victims included a woman who was seven months pregnant, a 56-year-old visiting her mother's grave and an 86-year-old motorist.

Judge Derwin Hope, at Bolton Crown Court, said :"This was an horrific crime spree.

"It is quite clear to me you terrorised the vulnerable female population when they were going about their normal business."

McLoughlin, aged 29, received 10 years after he pleaded guilty to seven counts of robbery and one of attempted robbery.

His wife, Gaynor McLoughlin, of Brazeley Avenue, Great Lever, received five years after pleading guilty to five counts of robbery and one count of attempted robbery.

McLoughlin, of no fixed abode, was said by Robert Orme QC for Mrs McLoughlin, to be "the moving spirit behind the offences". He has 35 convictions for 137 offences in a criminal record dating back to 1987, which Judge Hope described as "appalling".

The couple were arrested last November after their crimewave, which spanned a 10 day period.

They used stolen cars to drive around Bolton committing eight robberies, specifically targeting women who were alone in their cars.

Karl McLoughlin used a claw hammer to smash the car windows and snatched handbags and valuables from the victims.

The first robbery took place on Wednesday, October 9 when 56-year-old Marie Clayton was visiting her mother's grave at Heaton Cemetery. She noticed a car parked next to hers.

McLoughlin got out of the passenger side of the car, which had been stolen, and approached Mrs Clayton's car with a weapon, initially thought to be a cosh.

He smashed the driver's window and took her handbag. Mrs Clayton ran after McLoughlin and shouted at him to stop.

He raised the weapon above his head and threatened her before jumping in to a car driven away by his wife.

Ten minutes later, an 86-year-old woman who was not named, was sitting in her car half a mile down the road in Queensgate. A front window of her car was smashed and her bag taken as she attempted to fight back.

The car used in the attacks was later found abandoned with a wooden claw hammer inside.

On October 17, 2002, at 8.45am, pregnant Eileen Smith was driving towards Bolton town centre to work when she narrowly avoided a collision with a car driven by McLoughlin, who then followed her along Fletcher Street. As she sat sat the traffic lights, McLoughlin attempted to smash her driver's window, but fled when she sounded her horn.

Around 20 minutes later Ann Baker, aged 42, was robbed by the McLoughlins on Eastbourne Road in the same manner, and Michelle Bailey was showered with broken glass as her bag was snatched on Lincoln Road.

Half an hour later on Castleton Street, Tonge Moor, McLoughlin ripped a bag from the shoulder of a 58-year-old woman as she unloaded items from the boot of her car.

The following day, the couple targeted a 59-year-old woman who had parked her car on Albert Road, Heaton, after McLoughlin's wife had passed her and given a signal to pounce.

Less than an hour later, Marlene Burns, aged 69, was walking along a back street off Chorley Old Road when a car pulled up behind her and McLoughlin threatened her with the claw-hammer before tearing her handbag from her shoulder. Again he fled in a stolen car.

The couple were arrested as they walked along Tonge Moor Road, where they were living at the time of the robberies. McLoughlin had been seen with the claw-hammer hanging from the pocket of his trousers.

They were found with cash, debit and credit cards and items of jewellery from the thefts. A large number of other items were found at the couple's home.

Alaric Bassano, prosecuting, said that McLoughlin had carried and brandished the hammer in order to strike fear and terror into his victims.

He also said that in driving him to and away from the attacks, his wife "had participated fully and enthusiastically". It was argued that she had been under considerable duress from McLoughlin.

Elizabeth Dudley-Jones QC, for McLoughlin, drew attention to his pre-sentence reports and psychiatric reports which "stated a number of mental health problems". It was also heard that McLoughlin's brother had committed suicide by hanging at the age of eight as the result of treatment at the hands of an abusive father, which had also had a great effect upon McLoughlin.

These problems were compounded by heavy drug use. The attacks were fuelled by a need to buy crack cocaine.

Investigating Officer DC Dave Hill said: "I am pleased with today's sentence. The trauma of the incidents will stay with these women for a long time to come."

Three of the couple's four children are today being cared for by family members while a fourth was placed into social services care.

Drug addicts Karl and Gaynor McLoughlin, who have four children, embarked on a three day robbery binge to feed their heroin and crack cocaine addiction.

Their victims included a woman who was seven months pregnant, a 56-year-old visiting her mother's grave and an 86-year-old motorist.

Judge Derwin Hope, at Bolton Crown Court, said: "This was an horrific crime spree.

"It is quite clear to me you terrorised the vulnerable female population when they were going about their normal business."

McLoughlin, aged 29, received 10 years after he pleaded guilty to seven counts of robbery and one of attempted robbery.

His wife, Gaynor McLoughlin, of Brazeley Avenue, Great Lever, received five years after pleading guilty to five counts of robbery and one count of attempted robbery.

McLoughlin, of no fixed abode, was said by Robert Orme QC for Mrs McLoughlin, to be "the moving spirit behind the offences". He has 35 convictions for 137 offences in a criminal record dating back to 1987, which Judge Hope described as "appalling".

The couple were arrested last November after their crimewave, which spanned a 10 day period.

They used stolen cars to drive around Bolton committing eight robberies, specifically targeting women who were alone in their cars.

Karl McLoughlin used a claw hammer to smash the car windows and snatched handbags and valuables from the victims.

The first robbery took place on Wednesday, October 9 when 56-year-old Marie Clayton was visiting her mother's grave at Heaton Cemetery. She noticed a car parked next to hers.

McLoughlin got out of the passenger side of the car, which had been stolen, and approached Mrs Clayton's car with a weapon, initially thought to be a cosh.

He smashed the driver's window and took her handbag. Mrs Clayton