A gang of bank robbers who used gas to blow up a cash machine in Kent have had their sentences increased at the Court of Appeal today.

Their cases were referred by Attorney General Jeremy Wright QC MP, who argued the five men should face longer in jail.

The gang planned and organised the burglary of banks and cash machines in Kent over an eight-week period.

In one successful attack, they escaped with nearly £20,000 in cash and caused nearly £40,000 worth of damage to the building.

Danny Smith, 30, of High Street, Sheerness, Gary Smith, 39, of Norton Crescent, Tonbridge', Luke Cassidy, 28, of Tonbridge Road, Maidstone, Jason Robert Selwood, 30, of Welland Road, Tonbridge, and Lee Spinks, 28, of Foxgrove Avenue, Beckenham, were jailed for a combined total of more than 30 years.

Each of the five men received between five years and four months, and six years for charges of conspiracy to burgle, causing an explosion and attempting to cause an explosion.

They were sentenced by his honour judge Ainley, sitting at Croydon Crown Court on July 15 this year, but the Attorney General thinks the sentences they received are unduly lenient.

Danny Smith, Gary Smith, Luke Cassidy and Leigh Spinks all had their sentences increased to eight years today - with Selwood's term increased to seven-and-a-half years.

The five men damaged the Riverhead branch of the Barclays Bank in November last year when they blew up the ATM attached to the front of the building.

In a statement the Attorney General’s Office said their actions could have seriously endangered people's lives.

The gang was caught in a joint investigation carried out by Kent officers and The Metropolitan Police Flying Squad.

Spinks was arrested on November 11 after police linked him with attempts to purchase gas canisters.

Two members - Gary Smith and Luke Cassidy - were caught red handed as the robbers tried to blow up an ATM in Borough Green.

The rest of the gang was rounded up shortly after the failed raid.

Explosive attacks on ATMs is a form of bank burglary that is common in Europe but has only recently been seen in the UK.

Speaking at the Court of Appeal hearing, Mr Wright said: “The actions of these men not only led to the theft of money and substantial damage to property, but they could also have endangered members of the public.

"These were not just dishonest but dangerous actions by a group of men who planned these attacks with little thought to the consequences for anyone who could have been nearby when the explosions took place.

“Using gas canisters to cause an explosion is dangerous and volatile.

"We have seen the number of these attacks increase substantially in Europe in the last eight to nine years, but they have only recently been seen in the UK.

“The Court of Appeal today recognised the need for a deterrent sentence in cases of this kind.

"A clear message has been sent today that attacks of this kind will not be tolerated – they are a significant danger to the public.

"We will ensure that those convicted are given sentences that reflect the seriousness of their crimes.”

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