Brave undercover cop posed as bar regular for THREE YEARS to nab ‘untouchable’ turf war gangsters
Publican to serve 15 years in segregated prison wing after unwittingly spilling beans on gang
A BRAVE undercover cop’s evidence helped lock up ten gangsters for a total of 80 years today.
The officer posed as a bar regular for three years to nail the “untouchables”, Manchester Crown Court heard.
Publican Terence Hamer, 45, befriended the policeman unaware of his true identity – and blew the lid on their reign of terror unaware that he had been taped.
Thanks to Hamer, the officer – who called himself John Sherwood – was able to mount a sting operation to trap arms dealers from five crime families.
Sherwood posed as a wideboy businessman driving a flashy Audi and speaking in a thick Manc accent and fooled Hamer – who used his pub the Unicorn in Salford, Greater Manchester, as a “hub” for criminals – into befriending him.
Hamer boasted of being the ‘biggest whiz dealer on Salford Precinct’ then introduced the officer to a series of criminal contacts.
The detective – who used two other undercover officers as business associates – told one arms dealer he needed a gun as one of his guys had his drugs stolen and needed to “sort them out”. Each transaction was recorded or filmed.
In one deal brokered by Hamer, Sherwood bought a pistol, silencer, ammunition and double-barrelled shotgun for £2,000 at a farm and later paid £4,000 for a revolver, Beretta and bullets.
In September last year up to 200 officers staged a string of raids and recovered seven firearms plus hauls of drugs including Ecstasy, cocaine and a cannabis farm.
Today ten hoodlums including Hamer began a total of 80 years in jail and the undercover officer was in line for a top bravery award. Three other people got suspended sentences. Seven others are due to be sentenced later.
Chief Supt Mary Doyle, of Greater Manchester Police, said: “It is because of officers like this we are able to infiltrate gangs like these. To be an undercover officer deployed into those gangs you have to be credible simply to stay alive.
“This operation removed guns from the streets and directly stopped countless further criminal acts occurring.”
Hamer, who admitted selling firearms and supplying drugs, was jailed for 15 years and will serve his sentence on a segregated prison wing amid fears his life is now in danger. He will move to a secret address once he is freed.
His lawyer Mark Rhind, said: “He is a massively indiscreet ducker and diver who liked a drink.” He claimed Hamer would “big himself up” so he could keep himself “in beer money”.
But Judge Martin Rudland told Hamer: “You were very much at the centre of it all. Although I don’t think you are an evil man, you provided a number of contacts for him with others who were able and willing to get involved in criminal activity.
“The undercover officer found an unswept corner of society. His was the most incredible work – it seems he formed a genuine friendship with this man.”
Michael Conway, 48, was jailed for eight years and younger brother Thomas, 38, was given nine years and four months after both admitted selling firearms. Steven Smith, 44, was jailed for 12 years, eight months. Matthew
Roberts, 43, got eight years and five months and Mark Wright, 53, got seven years, after both were convicted of supplying guns and drugs.
David Smith, 77, got six years for selling guns while Barry Borton, 53, got seven years for supplying drugs and firearms. Gloria Power, 45, got six years for selling drugs and Alan Thompson, 55, got 16 months for drugs supply.
During one 16-month period in the area, there were 50 tit-for-tat shootings between rival gangs which left three men dead and at least 17 injured and earned Manchester the dubious nickname Gangchester. Last year local councillors blamed “war games and Grand Theft Auto” for a surge in shootings sparked a by feud over drugs.
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