Two hardened villains known as the ‘Wild Bunch’ bo

Two hardened villains known as the ‘Wild Bunch’ both began 30 year jail sentences at the Old Bailey today (mon) for shooting a security guard and then carrying out another armed robbery days later.

Charles Tozer, 46, and Francis Pope, 48, who netted pnds stlg 8,000 from the raids, maintained they were fitted up by bent detectives from the scandal-hit Flying Squad.

Lawyers for the pair claimed top brass at the Capital’s most respected police unit fostered and encouraged the ‘culture of corruption’ among junior officers.

And during the defence case they called former Flying Squad detectives, who admitted the existence of what was known as the ‘First Aid Kit’ – a box of revolvers and shotguns used to plant on robbery suspects.

The ex-cop, currently serving nine years for corruption, admitted providing a gun for a fit up, told how he pocketed pnds stlg 7,000 in loot shared amongst colleagues after they arrested armed robbers.

But after convicting Tozer and Pope of the two raids in 1997, after a week-long retrial the jury – which received round-the-clock police protection – heard the pair have a shocking criminal record including robbery, firearms.

Former boxer Tozer was jailed for 15 years in September 1988 for taking part in a series of armed raids across the capital that netted up to pnds stlg one million.

Tozer and his accomplices, who earnt themselves the nickname the Wild Bunch, celebrated successful robberies by booking suites at luxury hotels and throwing champagne parties, while singing ‘Pennies from Heaven.

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The cost of trying the pair is estimated to have cost the taxpayer up to seven million pounds in a trial process involving four juries, each subject to round-the-clock police protection, taking more than seven months of court time.

The first trial in October 1998 was aborted for legal reasons and a second jury had to be discharged a month later after Tozer and Pope sacked their barristers after 150 witnesses were called.

Then after a three month trial which ended in March last year a different jury cleared Pope and Tozer of any involvement in three further armed raids in 1997 on targets in the East End.

But they failed to reach verdicts on the two hold-ups the latest jury had to consider in another three month trial which ended today.

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After spending several nights at a hotel the jury convicted Pope and Tozer of robbery, attempted robbery, two counts of possessing handguns and inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent.

Pope, of (17) Willoughby House, Wapping, east London, and Tozer, of (306a) Liverpool Road, Islington, north London, denied the charges.

Michael Worsley, QC, prosecuting, told how during the first robbery at Safeways in Bow, east London, on August 16, 1997, security guard Stephen Sturgeon was shot in the arm.

Tozer and Pope and lay in wait for Mr Sturgeon as he collected takings from the store which was packed with Saturday afternoon shoppers.

The bandits produced hanguns and attacked the guard inside the shop, forcing to open the security cash box.

As he did so they threatened staff and shoppers, holding a gun to one man’s head and threatening to shoot him.

When Mr Sturgeon failed to open the box, they dragged him outside where they launched a ferocious beating.

Unable to get further cash Pope said ‘shoot him anyway’ and his vicious cohort casually pumped a bullet into his arm.

The pair were arrested two days later by Flying Squad officers but they went onto carry out a building society raid after they were bailed.

Mr Worsley told the court: ‘In the first of the two incidents, one of the security guards was deliberately shot by one of the robbers.

‘The mode of operation of each of the two incidents were very similar.

‘In each case they were armed with hand guns, in each case stolen getaway
cars were used.

‘The circumstances in each showed very careful preparation.

In each case the
object of the attack was a security guard coming from a security van.

‘There is great similarity between these two offences.

They were only a short time apart.

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The court was told that after being released on bail the pair robbed a guard outside the Nationwide Building Society in Kentish Town, north London on the morning of September 10, 1997.

Half an hour later Flying Squad officers and armed firearms officers swooped
on the two men as they walked down a street in Camden and arrested them.

Each was found in possession of a loaded .

22 calibre handgun, one of which had eight rounds of ammunition in it and each were carrying proceeds from the building society raid, the court was told.

Mr Worsley said when Tozer was arrested and asked about the money told police it was ‘his share.

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Defence barristers for Pope and Tozer spent weeks trying to discredit the prosecution case by focusing on what a judge recently described as the ‘culture of corruption’ which festered at London’s elite robbery squad.

One jailed former detective gave a shocking insight into the lawless practices which existed at one of the branches of the squad – which cannot be named for legal reasons.

He also told of practical jokes played in the squad’s office.

If for instance someone came back with cups of tea for the cops, one of them would leap out with a blank firing gun and ‘shoot’ the unfortunate recipient of the jape causing the drinks to be thrown into the air.

Another time at a Christmas do at the Chigwell rugby club in 1993 one of the officers donned a balaclava and put a gun to the head of a DCI, firing repeatedly with the imitation weapon.

The cop told how he threw a nine-inch bowie knife at a bullied colleague.

He said the tip of the blade had broken off so he knew his hounded workmate would not be hurt.

He also said when two officers made it clear that they did not approve of the working practices their seniors got together to write reports so their careers were ‘wrecked.

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