2:15pm Friday 16th May 2008
A JUDGE has warned a group of teenagers who carried out a six-year vendetta against a west Wiltshire milkman they could be facing a prison sentence.
District Judge Simon Cooper told the five, all from Bradford on Avon, their targeted campaign of theft was shocking and reprehensible' and the community needed to see justice done.
Luke Hammerton, of Avon Close, Gradyn Runyeard-Hunt, of Winsley Road, and Ashley Keirl, of Kingston Avenue, all 18, along with a 17 year old boy who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted stealing dairy products worth an estimated £12,000 from milkman Michael Bulling between 2001 and 2007 at Chippenham magistrates' court on Wednesday.
A further joint charge of harassment against Mr Bulling was withdrawn.
The four, along with 18 year old Samuel Jordan, of Avon Close, also admitted carrying out a burglary at Planks Dairy in Poulshot near Devizes in September 2007.
The court heard that over a period of years the group repeatedly stole milk and other dairy products from people's doorsteps in Bradford on Avon and the surrounding area.
They followed milkmen on their rounds in the early hours of the morning, sometimes riding on scooters alongside the milk floats while stealing from them and verbally abusing and intimidating Mr Bulling and his staff.
They set up a website on Bebo called BESMBE (Bradford Early Street Milk Blagging Elite), which chillingly included a photo of Mr Bulling's parents' gravestone, and bragged about their crimes without realising it was being monitored by police.
Prosecuting, Tessa Hingston said: "This caused a great deal of distress, annoyance and nuisance to the local residents. But in particular it affected Michael Bulling and his staff.
"The verbal abuse and harassment meant that the milkmen were forced to return to the yard, change their routes or abandon them altogether."
Many of his staff took early retirement or left and Mr Bulling eventually sold most of his business to Dairy Crest.
The police investigation continued over years but it proved difficult to identify exactly who had committed the crimes, until September last year when the five were caught red-handed stealing £150 worth of dairy products from Plank's Dairy.
Miss Hingston said it was likely many more were involved over the years and that Jordan's older brother had been one of the instigators of the vendetta.
Each of the defendant's solicitors said they had been drawn into the campaign but were not ringleaders, had admitted their crimes had got out of hand and were truly sorry.
Andrew Watts Jones said Runyeard-Hunt suffered from mild Asperger's syndrome and the others wound him up because it was fun to see what happened'.
Judge Cooper adjourned the case for reports to be prepared on the five.
He added: "What's evident to me is that you have deprived good men of their living and the satisfaction of a job well done. On of the things I will consider for the benefit of the community and to deter others from offending in this way is a custodial sentence."
realistic old man, West wilts says...
3:33pm Fri 16 May 08
Hayley, Bradford-On-Avon says...
4:17pm Fri 16 May 08
The Voice of Reason, Westbury says...
4:20pm Fri 16 May 08
quote
quote
Hayley, Bradford-On-Avon says...
4:46pm Fri 16 May 08
Walter McCabe, Freshford says...
4:55pm Fri 16 May 08
Alex Zivojinovich, Wiltshire says...
5:26pm Fri 16 May 08
Wiltshire Resident, Wiltshire says...
8:09pm Fri 16 May 08
english bulldog, sin-city says...
9:05pm Fri 16 May 08
ba14 all day every day baby, trowbridge says...
10:18pm Fri 16 May 08
Disgusted of wrote:not saying any think just find it a bit convienient .s.g.f.u.s.
ba14 all day every day baby wrote: did they mention one of them is a police ofice son ????Meaning what exactly?
Disgusted of, Westbury says...
10:22pm Fri 16 May 08
super pip, trowbridge says...
6:51am Sat 17 May 08
Andy, says...
10:33am Sat 17 May 08
ba14 all day every day baby wrote:No, I don't think they did.
did they mention one of them is a police ofice son ????
Hayley, Bradford-On-Avon says...
5:03pm Sat 17 May 08
Wiltshire Resident wrote:All they had to do was ask local residents and hang around Bradford-On-Avon in the early hours of the morning when milk rounds were taking place and they would have caught them all red handed.
Hayley, you should read the article again, but just in case you missed it, here is the relevant bit - The police investigation continued over years but it proved difficult to identify exactly who had committed the crimes, until September last year when the five were caught red-handed stealing £150 worth of dairy products from Plank's Dairy. So you see, the Police were working on it, but had no proof andthat is the important bit !!
ba14 all day every day baby, trowbridge says...
7:28pm Sun 18 May 08
Andy wrote:well i think they should lo
ba14 all day every day baby wrote:No, I don't think they did.
did they mention one of them is a police ofice son ????
ba14 all day every day baby, trowbridge says...
7:30pm Sun 18 May 08
Disgusted of wrote:i no i made on the spot . but it works lol try it some time
LOL 'sgfus'- That's a new one to me.
damsel, West Wiltshire says...
9:15pm Sun 18 May 08
Alex Zivojinovich, Wiltshire says...
9:15pm Mon 19 May 08
squirrel nutkins, bradford on avon says...
10:08am Tue 20 May 08
super pip, trowbridge says...
10:22am Tue 20 May 08
ba14 all day every day baby, trowbridge says...
9:29pm Tue 20 May 08
damsel wrote:man you talk some **** any one eles think so ????
Yea ok... we have done wrong. yea we do know we are guna get punished. This started off as a small prank.. It got way out of control!! we admit this.. we are all sorry for the part we have played. at the end of the day,, even tho they caught us.. there are so many other ppl in WILTSHIRE, not just boa hu have done, doing and will do when we are sentenced. Obviously one has learnt his lesson and is full of genuine remorse. but like some1 has sed. Yes the crime has already been committed. now we will pay for it. To be honest i dnt think any of you have any place to comment... as probably not one of u can say uv never done nething illegal.. when i say that i mean nething.. speeding.. spitting.. smoking underage.. underage drinking.. littering.. spitting out chewing gum.. So yea, maybe justice will be done in the eyes of u lot. and we may recieve a prison sentence or left to physically repay the debt to society.Watever we recieve.. we deserve it.. But u cant take away the fact that we are ALL GENUINELY SORRY!
bsby666, devizes says...
9:17am Wed 21 May 08
damsel, West Wiltshire says...
5:36pm Wed 21 May 08
super pip, trowbridge says...
7:50pm Wed 21 May 08
bsby666, devizes says...
10:07pm Wed 21 May 08
damsel, West Wiltshire says...
10:58pm Wed 21 May 08
jay.jay, bradford-on-avon says...
10:40am Thu 22 May 08
squirrel nutkins, bradford on avon says...
4:11pm Thu 22 May 08
squirrel nutkins, bradford on avon says...
10:41pm Thu 22 May 08
Saimi, Warminster says...
5:30pm Fri 23 May 08
as probably not one of u can say uv never done nething illegal.. when i say that i mean nething.. speeding.. spitting.. smoking underage.. underage drinking.. littering.. spitting out chewing gum..- how this quite compares to bullying and intimidation of a human being is beyond me.
ernie, Devizes says...
11:29am Sun 25 May 08
upforit, trowbridge says...
8:19pm Mon 26 May 08
drbennyboombass, bradford says...
9:01am Wed 28 May 08
ba14 all day every day baby, trowbridge says...
9:54pm Thu 29 May 08
Sonny-marie, Bradford On Avon says...
10:01pm Thu 29 May 08
Sonny-marie, Bradford On Avon says...
10:15pm Thu 29 May 08
damsel wrote:Fair enough, i think you lot have learnt your lesson and if yu go down it takes the **** as people are gettin away with killing people nowadays but when its over some pranks gone too far you get punished???!!! I wish you the best of luck. My brother nearly got killed, just outside our house in trow, and for no rreason, n that **** went down for like...a year?!!? its gettin stupid! xxx
We did stop to be bloody honest!! we tried... but there are wayyy more than us five!!! Its still going on, I got told this afternoon that someone had taken 3 pints from his neighbour.. so yea ok... judge cooper will sentence us, yes we will deserve this. but its obviously not going to work, 2day we are in the Daily Mail, The Metro, The evening standard(LONDON), the Western Daily Press. Where ever i go i get reli dirrty looks, because of this now, coming out nationwide. I feel judge Cooper will be making examples of us! Not reli fair. Like i have sed. yes we have done wrong, yes we deserve to be punished! And we will be.. But id be the 1st to stand up and help catch the rest of the ***** that are still bloody doing it, whilst we are under the spotlight. We are sorry, and thank you bsby666 from devizes. maybe u are one of the few ppl, hu understands how much we didnt expect it to get this far.
Sonny-marie, Bradford On Avon says...
10:21pm Thu 29 May 08
squirrel nutkins wrote:Thankyouu!!!!!!!!!
Oh my lord, do any of you actually realise what you are saying? have you not seen what is going on in the rest of the world? there are plenty of *^%$holes getting away with far worse. yes, its terrible what they did, but get over it. this is not about a group of hardcore criminals, its about a group of young kids, who were each individually going through tough times, (which had conveniently not been mentioned) who needed a let out. people are quick enough to act now this has happened but where were they when they were actually needed. if you ask me there needs to be more money spent on OUR OWN people in this country. things like this will carry on happening because there is little focus on young people to put them in the right direction. and just to put my message across, i know each and every one of these boys very well, and they are sorry. They are all well mannered caring boys who got bored and it got out of hand.
Sonny-marie, Bradford On Avon says...
10:27pm Thu 29 May 08
damsel wrote:They admitt it............if they go down dnt ya think it shows how sad n rediculous law is getin??
Yea ok... we have done wrong. yea we do know we are guna get punished. This started off as a small prank.. It got way out of control!! we admit this.. we are all sorry for the part we have played. at the end of the day,, even tho they caught us.. there are so many other ppl in WILTSHIRE, not just boa hu have done, doing and will do when we are sentenced. Obviously one has learnt his lesson and is full of genuine remorse. but like some1 has sed. Yes the crime has already been committed. now we will pay for it. To be honest i dnt think any of you have any place to comment... as probably not one of u can say uv never done nething illegal.. when i say that i mean nething.. speeding.. spitting.. smoking underage.. underage drinking.. littering.. spitting out chewing gum.. So yea, maybe justice will be done in the eyes of u lot. and we may recieve a prison sentence or left to physically repay the debt to society.Watever we recieve.. we deserve it.. But u cant take away the fact that we are ALL GENUINELY SORRY!
Sonny-marie, Bradford On Avon says...
12:25am Fri 30 May 08
Disgusted of wrote:Good i hope they do:D
'Prison sentence' my a r s e. They'll get community service and stick two finger up at the judge as they walk out the court room.
Sonny-marie, Bradford On Avon says...
12:37am Fri 30 May 08
drbennyboombass, bradford says...
6:43am Fri 30 May 08
trowbo, Trowbridge says...
9:52am Fri 30 May 08
Sonny-marie, Bradford On Avon says...
10:59am Fri 30 May 08
Sonny-marie, Bradford On Avon says...
2:48pm Sat 31 May 08
ba14 all day every day baby, trowbridge says...
9:22pm Sun 1 Jun 08
tootsie, Bradford on Avon says...
9:37pm Mon 2 Jun 08
quoteso we have the son of a copper so what has that got to do with it so the boys did wrong did they kill someone or cause some damage well if you all just read on see whats went on let him who has not sinned cast the fist sone now lets see what one of you lot in the comment page slagging off some young lads have not done any wrong
tootsie, Bradford on Avon says...
9:41pm Mon 2 Jun 08
tootsie, Bradford on Avon says...
9:42pm Mon 2 Jun 08
Andy wrote:nooooooooooooooooooo
ba14 all day every day baby wrote: did they mention one of them is a police ofice son ????No, I don't think they did.
tootsie, Bradford on Avon says...
9:43pm Mon 2 Jun 08
squirrel nutkins wrote:i agree with this one,no they are not hard core crims when we gonna catch them and when they do they get off
Oh my lord, do any of you actually realise what you are saying? have you not seen what is going on in the rest of the world? there are plenty of *^%$holes getting away with far worse. yes, its terrible what they did, but get over it. this is not about a group of hardcore criminals, its about a group of young kids, who were each individually going through tough times, (which had conveniently not been mentioned) who needed a let out. people are quick enough to act now this has happened but where were they when they were actually needed. if you ask me there needs to be more money spent on OUR OWN people in this country. things like this will carry on happening because there is little focus on young people to put them in the right direction. and just to put my message across, i know each and every one of these boys very well, and they are sorry. They are all well mannered caring boys who got bored and it got out of hand.
tootsie, Bradford on Avon says...
9:45pm Mon 2 Jun 08
Hayley wrote:what damage was that did they kill someone dont think so,were they drinking and driving nope oh yeah they pinched some milk well what a waste of money for a court case
6 years though, took the police long enough to do something about it! The damage has already been done hasn't it.
tootsie, Bradford on Avon says...
9:56pm Mon 2 Jun 08
drbennyboombass, bradford says...
12:46am Thu 5 Jun 08
john coffey, Wiltshire says...
4:02pm Sun 8 Jun 08
ba14 all day every day baby wrote:Sometimes we r just weary of trying to fight all the bullies of this world............but what a sad reflection that in some cases those that bully the most feel they can do so because of their "protection" being related to ...a bent policeman.... getting free dairy products for 6 years.........plus all the 2smoothcrew stuff......hey chill......he'll have to start buying his milk at Sainsburys!
i think the coppers son will get a way with it like her to boys alway do the injoy joy smashing people up on the weekend and they always get away it the **** should lose her job treet her like they treet any other parent blame her isnt what they say blame the parents well dont see them saying now do you ?/?????? f.f.s.b.h.
-c-, b-o-a says...
7:21pm Sun 8 Jun 08
john coffey, Wiltshire says...
8:40pm Sun 8 Jun 08
Sonny-marie, Bradford On Avon says...
11:35pm Sun 8 Jun 08
Sonny-marie, Bradford On Avon says...
11:46pm Sun 8 Jun 08
damsel, West Wiltshire says...
7:03pm Tue 10 Jun 08
Memoriess, b-o-a says...
1:02am Thu 12 Jun 08
Sonny-marie, Bradford On Avon says...
11:38am Sat 14 Jun 08
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Disgusted of, Westbury says...
3:28pm Fri 16 May 08
'Prison sentence' my a r s e. They'll get community service and stick two finger up at the judge as they walk out the court room.