'Here's Johnny!' Ellesmere Port ram raider pair jailed

Burt Neil, 34, of Sutton Way, Ellesmere Port and Jake Mayers, 31, of Thornton Road, both previously pleaded guilty to affray, dangerous driving, criminal damage and possession of an axe in public.

Chester Crown Court heard on Friday, August 9 that it was at about 3am on July 22 last year that one of the pair, believed to be Neil, used an axe to burst a hole in the door of the Grace Road property, before shouting "Here's Johnny!"

Judge Michael Leeming, sentencing the pair, understood that reference to be the phrase shouted by Jack Nicholson's character when he used an axe to smash a hole in a hotel door in The Shining.

'Get the chopper out'

He jailed Neil for 40 months and Mayers for 38 months.

Prosecuting, Paulinus Barnes said footage of the criminal damage had been recorded by Neil, who was heard shouting "Ram it! Reverse. Ram it again!" as Mayers drove the 4x4 vehicle repeatedly at the garden wall, before saying he was "going to get the chopper out".

The court heard several 999 calls were made to police by frightened neighbours, with one later telling officers they no longer felt safe in their home.

The 4x4 was later found abandoned in Telford Road, damaged and without number plates. A police check of the vehicle found it was registered to Mayers.

'Go viral'

Officers also found evidence Neil had sent the 70-second video to someone, saying he "wanted it to go viral", title it 'Grace Road Ram Raid', but leave their names off it.

In a victim impact statement, the landlord of the property had been left "shocked" at the extent of the damage, which cost £1,130 + VAT to replace with a concrete fence.

The court heard Neil had six aliases and had 27 previous convictions for 51 offences, including for affray, assault causing actual bodily harm, criminal damage and fraud. He was also in breach of an eight-week suspended sentence for breaches of non-molestation orders.

'Bitterly regrets'

Mayers had 14 previous convictions for 41 offences, and this was his fifth dangerous driving offence. He was in breach of a suspended sentence for threatening behaviour in communications.

Maria Masselis, defending Mayers, said the defendant "bitterly regrets" his involvement and "recognises the stupidity of his behaviour".

There was a "much more positive side" to the man portrayed by his record and his behaviour shown in the video, being self-employed and looking after his children during the summer.

He no longer associated with people with whom he had been involved in criminal activity, and no longer took illegal drugs or alcohol.

Myles Wilson, defending Neil, said the difference between the defendant's actions and Jack Nicholson in The Shining was Neil never tried to get inside the flat, but rather to give "a warning shot".Having been threatened by people at the property, he "decided to take matters into his hands".

Neil had PTSD from a childhood trauma and, with a custodial term, would lose his home and its possessions.

'Vanity and arrogance'

Judge Leeming told both defendants: "The two of you have been utterly undeterred. You fail to take up opportunities over the years in community orders, you have always reoffended. Prison is a temporary disruption to your activities."

He added, for Neil: "Your own vanity and arrogance in believing you were above the law has been your downfall. The only people interested in viewing the video footage are the police and the court."

As well as the prison sentences, both defendants were handed driving bans and must pass an extended retest to get behind the wheel.

Mayers was banned from driving for 55 months and Neil for 40 months.