£1M Stolen Machinery Racket Busted: Three Jailed, Four Slap on the Wrist
Three men, including a pair of brothers, have been locked up for their roles in a £1 million stolen machinery scam. Four others received suspended sentences after a lengthy investigation uncovered a criminal gang laundering stolen plant equipment across the UK and Europe.
€1M Worth of Stolen Machines Modified and Resold
Between 2015 and 2018, a total of 46 high-value plant machines vanished, mostly stolen from the North West. The machinery was taken to a dodgy industrial unit in Nelson, where the gang stripped original IDs and doctored paperwork to mask the crime.
The repainted and re-registered machines were then flogged across Europe—and in some shocking cases—even as far as Australia. Buyers believed they were getting legitimate equipment, but the reality was far from it.
Key Players in the Stolen Machinery Syndicate
- Max Wynn – The ringleader who pocketed VAT from every sale but never paid a penny in tax. He eventually admitted conspiracy to handle stolen goods and money laundering.
- Karl Langley – Close associate of Wynn, involved with machines worth around £50,000. Pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods.
- Alex Grice – Trusted henchman who earned commissions for hiding machine identities. Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to handle stolen goods.
- Richard Wynn – Max’s brother, who transported stolen machinery and handled sales. Found guilty after trial in December 2022.
- Craig Douglas – Cleaner-upper who disguised at least one £80,000 machine. Admitted handling stolen goods.
- Gavin Mellor – Helped buy companies to legitimize the sales. Pleaded guilty to money laundering.
- Ian Mellor – Gavin’s father, laundered cash via shell companies with little real business, funneling cash back to Wynn.
Victims and Police React
“I’ve been in the plant machinery trade over 20 years, built on trust and goodwill. Finding out I’d unwittingly bought stolen machines has tarnished my name,” said one buyer.
“I’m worried about my business and how others see me now,” he added.
PC Neil Goodison of Lancashire Police said: “Our investigation linked this £1 million theft ring back to Max Wynn and his crew in Nelson. Their brazenness was staggering.”
“They sold stolen machines to unsuspecting buyers locally and as far as Spain, Sweden, and Australia. These sentences show we take crimes against our communities seriously.”
