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A vicious gang of professional armed robbers who sowed terror in the city and left victims devastated were today jailed for decades.

The shocking three-week crime spree saw nine bars and restaurants hit – and their victims included one man who was pistol whipped in the face and another who was told his hand would be cut off in front of his nine-year-old son.

Ring-leader Frankie Wood, 23, led up to three accomplices terrorising staff after look-out and getaway driver Hayley Digney, 34, had cased the premises beforehand.

At least two offenders remain unidentified, but at Liverpool Crown Court today Wood was jailed for 19 years with an extra five on licence while fellow robber Thomas Lacken, 39, was locked up for 10.

All three had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery after the raids in Aigburth, Old Swan, West Derby, Allerton and Crosby.

Mum-of-one Digney sobbed in the dock as she was put behind bars for 14 and a half years.

(Image: Merseyside Police)

Relatives of Digney and Wood screamed “rat” at Judge Neil Flewitt, QC, from the public gallery and were ejected from court by police officers.

Andrew Ford, prosecuting, told the court: “This was a burst of terrifying robberies of extreme gravity, in a major city, over a three week period, which shocked the community.”

At least two of the gang remain unidentified, but this is the timeline of their devastating activities.

For all the terror they spread and the victims they traumatised, they managed to get away with less than £10,000.

Al Dente

(Image: Merseyside Police)

The Italian restaurant on Lark Lane was the first to be hit at 12.30am on June 16, 2018.

Owner Baris Coskuncay, who was locking up for the night alone, heard loud bangs and saw four males armed with hammers run inside.

He narrowly avoided being struck and locked himself in a bathroom while the men tried to force their way through the door.

Mr Ford told the court: “He was screaming that he had children at home. He rang the police from his mobile telephone.”

When he eventually emerged, he realised a cash box containing £3,000 had been taken.

(Image: Merseyside Police)

Sakara

The gang next struck Aigburth Road eatery Sakara on June 18, 2018.

Owner Claire O'Regan could be seen on CCTV visibly jumping off the ground in fear when two men, armed with knives, burst from under the shutters as she tried to close up after a busy Father's Day.

She pleaded with the men not to hurt her as they demanded cash, and was led around by the hand until they raided the tills of £1,000 and left.

She was described as trying to fight for her purse despite the terror of the incident.

(Image: Tipsy Monkey)

Aroma

Two days later, the gang burst into Aroma on Allerton Road at 11.20pm.

Owner Momosir Ali attacked was confronted by three men one of who held a machete to his wrist and threatened to cut his hand off in front of his terrified nine-year-old son.

For the terror caused, the robbers only escaped with £90 cash and a bottle of whisky.

Tribeca

June 24 saw the first of two attacks at the popular Smithdown Road pizza restaurant and bar by the same gang on June 24.

Terrified staff waiting to leave for the day were horrified when three armed men burst inside armed with machetes.

Staff were rounded up and one worker, Niall Scott, was told to remove cash from the safe and pack it into a back or “your guts will be slit all over the floor.”

(Image: Google)

Stella McKerchar-Marion suffered a panic attack, prompting one of the robbers, in an outbreak of sympathy, to say: “Don’t worry, no one’s going to get hurt, you get paid, we get paid, do you know what I mean.”

Who were the skull mask machete gang? Ringleader - Frankie Wood Wood organised the raids and threatened the victims with extreme violence Getaway driver / lookout - Hayley Digney Digney provided the getaway vehicle by renting it out in her deceased grandfather's name She also acted as the getaway driver on at least four of the robberies Digney did recon runs to scout out the premises before the raids Henchman - Thomas Lacken Lacken was only involved in the final robbery at the Tipsy Monkey The court heard he became involved over a £200 debt when a friend threatened him At least two further offenders remain on the run

Domino's Pizza

What was described as the “most serious” robbery took place at the Domino's branch in Honey's Green Lane, West Derby, on July 26.

Assistant manager Thomas Walsh was crouched by a freezer when he was grabbed from behind by a man who dragged him into the office.

The man demanded “where's the money?” and Mr Walsh showed him to the safe at front of the store.

The court heard Mr Walsh realised two more men wearing skull masks were in the restaurant, and noticed the “ringleader”, later proven to be Wood, was wearing a dark, bottle-green Armani tracksuit.

Mr Ford described how the terrified Mr Walsh told the men, truthfully, that he could not open the safe due to a time-delay mechanism.

He told the court: “Mr Walsh noticed a gun in the right hand of the first male. The male hit him in the face with the butt of the gun.

(Image: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire)

“There must have been weight to both the firearm and the blow because it split Mr Walsh's lip cleanly and deeply.

“He sustained a full thickness wound to the lip requiring suturing [surgical stitches]. It loosened his tooth and he was left with scarring.

“CCTV shows a quick blow as in ‘pistol-whipping,‘ and a spurt of blood from Mr Walsh's mouth to the floor.”

His colleague, Lucia Simovicova, also had the weapon held to her head and was ordered to open the safe.

The court heard how she looked the attacker in the eye and “pleaded that there was a time delay.”

After the brutal attack, the gang escaped with only £50.

Frankie & Benny's

The Italian style branch, on Edge Lane, was next to be hit on June 27.

Three armed men burst in and threatened staff with machetes while they were closing up.

Victim Adam Fagan was told he would be stabbed and hit in the face with the blunt edge of a meat cleaver type weapon.

Mr Fagan was so upset by the incident he left Liverpool.

The Fulwood Arms

The only pub to be targeted, The Fulwood Arms, on Aigburth Road, still had customers inside when it was hit on July 1, 2018.

Armed men threatened customers and staff with machetes and raided the safe. One customer was jabbed with the blade as the victims are herded into a cupboard.

Tribeca

Staff at Tribeca were forced to relive the terror a second time on July 4, 2018.

Victim Liam O'Shaughnessy was told "open the f****** safe or we will stab you” and struck hard to the back of the head with the handle of a machete.

Grilla

Five members of staff at Grilla, on Allerton Road, ended their new restaurant's opening night on July 5 lying on the floor face down with knives held to their necks.

Mr Ford told the court: “The scene presented in this robbery is of at least five staff members lying face down on the floor, with three armed intruders over them effecting the robbery at knifepoint.

“It was a ruthless, determined, terrifying robbery.”

Tipsy Monkey

The final incident took place after publicity began to emerge, which may explain why the gang moved from South Liverpool to the restaurant on Liverpool Road, Crosby, for the final raid on July 7.

Staff member Kerry Jackson was putting shutters down for the night when a masked man, followed by two accomplices, emerged from underneath and booted the glass doors through.

She forced to the floor and threatened, and later told police she feared she would be raped in front of her colleague, bar manager Peter Smith.

She lost her voice for two days due to the trauma and has since resigned from her job.

Downfall

By now police had realised a Renault 4X4 type vehicle was spotted by nearly all the premises targeted.

Mr Ford said enquiries linked the car to Digney, who had hired it in the name of her dead grandad.

The car was spotted on July 8 when police gave chase, and it was later abandoned in Scarisbrick Road, Walton.

A Ribena bottle inside the vehicle revealed DNA links to Digney, while a Lucozade bottle bearing Lacken's DNA was found.

Finger prints matching Wood were found behind the rear view mirror.

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CCTV checks revealed Digney carrying out recon outside the Fulwood Arms and Tipsy Monkey, minutes before the armed intruders struck.

Wood was arrested on July 11 at a flat in Brookdale, Widnes, where a pair of trainers matching a footprint left on a door in Frankie & Benny's were found by his bed.

Mr Ford said: "He was immediately highly violent and confrontational. He showed extreme volatility. He launched himself at the police, in a state of undress. He was arrested on suspicion of robbery. He made no reply. He never ceased resistance."

Digney was also arrested at her home in Raynham Road, Old Swan, where she also acted aggressively with police, while Lacken was arrested near his home in Tudor Street North, Kensington.

Limited mitigation

Jonathan Duffy, defending Wood, told the court his client had not inflicted extremely serious violence, in the context of armed robbery, during the raids and was still a young man.

He said his client's offences were not sophisticated despite their frequency.

Anthony O'Brien, representing Digney, said his client accepted providing the car for nine of the 10 robberies and admitted she knew weapons were going to be used.

He said she had never entered any of the premises, or wielded a weapon herself.

Keith Sutton, representing Lacken, said his client had only been involved in one of the robberies, at the Tipsy Monkey, and had not inflicted violence.

"Ruthlessly Executed"

Judge Neil Flewitt, QC, passing sentence, told Wood: "You were the ringleader, the driving force behind these robberies. You lead a group of robbers who for three weeks terrorised restaurants and bars primarily in south Liverpool.

"Your offences were carefully planned and ruthlessly executed. You and your associates armed yourselves with knives and machetes and on one occasion a firearm or imitation firearm.

"All of these weapons were used to threaten serious violence."

He told Digney that despite her lack of involvement inside the premises, she had enabled the attackers to carry out nine of the 10 robberies by lending them the car and carrying out reconnaissance on the venues.

He said: "You must take your share of responsibility for the trauma inflicted on all these victims."

Wood was branded a dangerous offender and handed an extended sentence, meaning rather than automatically being released on licence at the half way point, he must serve at least two-thirds of the 19 year prison term behind bars and can only be released early if a parole board believes he is no longer a risk to the public.

Comfort

Detective Inspector Paul Speight, of Merseyside Police, who led the investigation, said: “These sentences show how seriously the courts have taken this frightening spate of offences, and should serve as a deterrent to anyone who would consider trying similar. We will continue to work closely with any businesses affected by robbery to ensure that the perpetrators are put before the courts.

“Some of these incident resulted in threats with weapons, and in one case a member of staff was struck with a firearm. In addition to this injury, the psychological impact on him and other victims cannot be underestimated. It can be deeply traumatising to experience first-hand the kind of greedy and callous criminal prepared to threaten and damage people and their livelihoods.

“Whether small independent businesses or national chains, the staff working there are most often people living in our communities just trying to earn a living. They should be able to go to work each day safe in the knowledge that they will not fall victim to incidents such as this. We hope that today’s sentences offer some comfort as they continue to come to terms with what they have been through."