Gang member fails in appeal bid

Luke John Willis, 18, of Nelson Road, Hastings, pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit an aggravated burglary on November 21 2006 at Lewes Crown Court.

In September 2006, he also pleaded guilty to various drugs offences and, at a hearing on July 27 2007, he was put behind bars for six years.

At London's Criminal Appeal Court, his lawyers argued the sentence was manifestly excessive, because it was the first offence of this kind that Willis had committed.

Mr Justice Silber, sitting with Lord Justice Hooper and Mr Justice Underhill, agreed to delete a concurrent two-year sentence for the cannabis count.

However, that will have no impact on Willis' overall six-year sentence.

The judge said police were sold drugs by Willis while carrying out an undercover operation in Hastings. He provided each officer with different weights of crack cocaine and heroin.

The next day Willis was arrested and found with 57 small wraps in his clothing, as well as further packages of drugs in his bag.

He was estimated to be carrying 472 worth of crack cocaine, 1,202 worth of heroin, and 2 worth of cannabis.

The events surrounding the aggravated burglary unfolded on June 25, 2006.

Mr Justice Silber said Jo Mooney was on the driveway of her home when she heard her daughter Kia screaming.

The judge added: "Kia had been grabbed by a man with a gun.

"More men emerged carrying hammers and mallets, and one of them said: 'We are professional hit men and we will kill if necessary.'"

He said the gang tied up Miss Mooney and her daughter and took 1,000 in cash as well as Miss Mooney's credit and debit cards and PIN numbers.

Tax driver Jason Howard was also tied up in the attack and, as they left the house, some members of the gang cut the phone lines.

Mr Justice Silber said Miss Mooney managed to free herself after the gang left, found a phone line that had been unplugged rather than cut and dialled 999.

Speaking of the impact of the raid, he said: "Miss Mooney said she and her daughter Kia had been unable to return to the house, staying with friends and family, and eventually the house had been sold.

"Mr Howard was unable to continue with his job."

He continued: "Willis was under instructions at the time. He had a hammer but did not have a gun.

"He denied ever touching Miss Mooney or Kia."

His pre-sentence report said Willis was struck by the money and the criminal lifestyle of his peers.

"This led to him getting involved in drug dealing," Mr Justice Silber said.

"He was ashamed of his actions. It was also noted he had demonstrated a clear victim insight."

Referring to the drugs offences, Mr Justice Silber said: "These were serious offences both in the number of drugs in Willis' possession and the way they had been packaged, which indicated he was a serious and repeated drug dealer.."

Describing the burglary offence as "serious" with many aggravating factors, he concluded: "The total sentence of six years cannot be said to be manifestly excessive."