JAILED: Men who went on £500,000 car burgling spree

John Fennell and Zachary Sanderson appeared at Preston Crown Court where prosecuting barrister, Barbara Webster, read out the harrowing victim personal statements which detailed the psychological impacts the defendant’s actions had on their families and their lives.

Brave victim Paul Horrocks, who had been on holiday when his home was broken into also stood in the witness box to describe how he and his wife, as pensioners, had planned to live an enjoyable life but had been violated by the break-in.

John Fennell (Image: Lancs Police)

Ms Webster told the court that Fennell and Sanderson had committed a spate of meticulously planned burglaries in the first half of 2022, destroying fuse boxes; cutting wires connected to homes to disable any security; smashing locks and burning alarms using blow torches and other items; before entering the properties, stealing keys, cars, jewellery, and completely devastating the homes of their victims.

Many of the vehicles stolen, which included Audis, BMWs, Mercedes Benz, Range Rovers and Land Rovers, were taken to garages owned by co-defendant Anthony Clegg and placed on false plates. Later, police found plate presses and other items linked to the burglaries inside the garages.  

Homes across Blackburn, Hapton, Bolton, Wilpshire, Whalley, Read and Simonstone were targeted, with Sanderson brazenly travelling to the Trafford Centre and spending thousands of pounds on designer trainers and clothes, using money taken during the burglaries.

Zach Sanderson's Selfridges receipt

Sanderson's Harvey Nichols receipt​

Even though six of the eight vehicles were recovered by police, they were damaged and some had no keys.

THE CRIMES IN FULL

- On September 10, 2021, a Land Rover was stolen from Bury Market while the victim was taking her disabled parents out shopping. That vehicle was later found to be being driven by the partner of defendant Zach Sanderson with false number registration plates on when he was arrested in April 2022.

- On January 15, 2022, a Mercedes was stolen during a burglary in Kirkhill Avenue, Haslingden. The Mercedes later crashed into another vehicle. Enquiries found that defendant John Fennell was in the area of the burglary and subsequent crash at the time.

- On January 17, 2022, a white Audi A4 , valued at £14,000, was stolen from an address in Bentham Close, Blackburn, and used five days later during a burglary in Colne. The Audi was found dumped a short time later, baring false registration plates. Sanderson’s fingerprints were later found on the registration plates.

- Also on January 17, a Mercedes was stolen from Bolton. Enquiries revealed that Fennell was in the area at the time.

- Six days later another Mercedes, valued at 21,000, was stolen in Stockport, with enquiries again revealing that Fennell was in the area at the time.

- On January 28, 2022, at a time when Fennell and Sanderson were in the village, a Land Rover, a Range Rover, jewellery and cash were taken during a burglary at a property in Hawkshaw. The vehicles were later left in Blackburn. The vehicles were valued at £58,500, with the other property taken valued at £30,570. Enquiries revealed Fennell and Sanderson were in the area at that same time. Sanderson later called for a taxi to Farnworth – an area which defendant Mikey Baker (pictured below) has links to.

- The Range Rover was recovered and returned to its owner, with the Land Rover recovered in Burnley the following day after being used in an attempted burglary in Colne.

- On February 8, 2022, £76,000 of property was stolen during a burglary in Read. Enquiries revealed that Fennell was in the area at the time.

- On February 11, 2022, a Seat was stolen during a burglary in Whalley Old Road, Blackburn, when Sanderson and Fennell were in the area. Neighbours reported the burglary and officers pursued the Seat which was being driven in convoy with an Audi A3 linked to Sanderson. Fennell attempted to hide outside a petrol station in Blackburn Road, Haslingden, and told a delivery driver he was being sought by the police helicopter and asked for a lift. The driver alerted officers, who quickly arrested Fennell. The following day, the Mercedes stolen from Bolton on January 17, was found in Plant Street, Oswaldtwistle – close to a property linked to Sanderson. The vehicle had false registration plates and inside officers found jewellery and a purse stolen during the burglary in Hawkshaw on January 28, and handbags stolen during the burglary in Read on February 8.

- On February 28, 2022, a BMW, a quad bike and other property was stolen from a property in Wilpshire. The total value of property taken was £132,000. Enquiries revealed that Fennell was in the area at the time.

- Overnight on March 13 there were a series of burglaries across East Lancashire committed by Sanderson and Fennell. The following morning, Sanderson was in high mobile phone contact with the defendant Mubarak Patel. Patel later sent an image to the defendant Anthony Clegg in reference to a stolen vehicle.

- On April 7, 2022, Sanderson and Fennell are caught on CCTV stealing a vehicle in Bolton. It was subsequently discovered that Clegg and Patel were in contact the following morning about the stolen vehicle, with Patel later booking a taxi from Blackburn to Clegg’s unit in Whalley.

- On April 9, 2022, a BMW was stolen during a burglary in Blackburn. Later that afternoon Clegg and Patel were in contact with each other, with Clegg later informing his co-defendant to tell him that the vehicle was ready. When Clegg was arrested days later, parts from the BMW were found in his unit.

- At 12.45am on April 11, 2022, a Range Rover, valued at £27,000, designer handbags and jewellery were stolen during a burglary in Hapton.

- Around 2am the same day another burglary was committed in Whalley, during which a Mercedes motorbike, valued at £30,995, and expensive watches were taken. The total value of property taken was £490,065.

Fennell and Sanderson were eventually caught when they tried to steal from vehicles at an Enterprise Rent a Car in April 2022.

Zachary Sanderson (Image: Lancs Police)

Fennell, who headed up the criminal outfit, and Sanderson were seen on CCTV wearing balaclavas and had arrived at the yard in a cloned Mercedes Benz.

Further enquires and investigations found that mobile cell site data had placed Fennell and Sanderson in the areas of the burglaries as they were being committed.

Fennell, 29, of Blackburn Road, Oswaldtwistle, has nine convictions for 11 offences including similar theft and burglary matters, and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to burgle. He was jailed for five years and three months.

Sanderson, 24, of Simpson Street, Hapton, has six convictions for 13 offences, and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to burgle and conspiracy to steal. He was jailed for four years and three months.

Zach Sanderson having been arrested after jumping over a fence

Clegg, of Edgeside, Great Harwood, has three convictions for 10 offences most of which are driving matters, and pleaded guilty to two counts of handling stolen goods. He was handed 16 months in prison suspended for 18 months, 150 hours unpaid work and 25 rehabilitation activity days. 

A Proceeds of Crime Act hearing will be scheduled for a later date.