Robbers shamed in poster campaign

All four were jailed at Manchester Crown Court on Friday

Members of Manchester's Gooch Close gang are being named and shamed on a billboard after they were sentenced for a series of violent armed raids.

Errol Reynolds, 20, Laine Williams, 22, Paul Dunn and Reece Ming, both 18, were convicted after attacks on shops across Greater Manchester in 2005.

The four were sentenced at Manchester Crown Court on Friday.

It was also revealed Reynolds is serving life for the murder of gang member Ramone Cumberbatch in 2005.

Police hope the poster campaign will bring forward witnesses to other crimes.

The billboard, being put up in Lloyd Street South in Fallowfield, will also feature Reynolds' brother, Malachi.

The 27-year-old gang member is already serving a seven year sentence for threatening a 31-year-old mother-of-two with a gun in Salford.

The men sentenced on Friday were responsible for 28 robberies at convenience stores, petrol stations and jewellery shops in Bolton, Manchester, Stockport and Trafford.

They used various weapons including guns, hammers, iron bars, a metal pole and a weighted rope during a spree between August and October 2005.

We hope this will encourage other witnesses to come forward in other cases, including the murder of Jessie James Supt John O'Hare

Supt John O'Hare, of Greater Manchester Police (GMP), said: "This was a particularly violent series of armed robberies.

"The men all had firearms among other weapons and they were not afraid to use them."

The officer said the convictions were the result of painstaking investigations by his force - and the co-operation of members of the community.

New powers within the court system to protect the witnesses who came forward helped to secure the convictions.

"Reynolds thought that no one would bring evidence against him. He was wrong. Witnesses did come forward and he was convicted," said Mr O'Hare.

"We hope this will encourage other witnesses to come forward in other cases, including the murder of Jessie James.

"The poster and billboard will serve as a reality check."

Indeterminate sentences

Reynolds, of Triscombe Way, Moss Side, pleaded guilty to three charges of robbery and one attempted robbery.

He was jailed for 45 months to run concurrently with his life sentence for murder.

Williams, of Westerling Way, Moss Side, pleaded guilty to two robberies, one attempted robbery and possession of an imitation firearm.

He was given an indeterminate sentence for public protection to serve a minimum of five years, to run concurrently with a nine-year sentence he received last year for attempted murder.

Dunn, of Quemby Street, Hulme, was sentenced to eight years after pleading guilty to five robberies and possession of an imitation firearm.

I think prison is the best place for them Bev Knott, Victim's mother

Ming, of City Road, Hulme was given an indeterminate sentence to serve a minimum of five years after admitting three robberies and three counts of possession of a firearm.

Dunn and Ming will both serve their sentences at a young offenders' institute.

Reynolds was named for the first time on Friday since his conviction last year for shooting dead Mr Cumberbatch.

Speaking after the sentencing, Cumberbatch's mother Bev Knott, said: "I owe the witnesses everything.

"Without them I don't know where I'd be today. I could still be waiting for justice.

"It's these offenders who are bringing our community down, but now it's time to stop. It's time to put guns down. I think prison is the best place for them."