A MEMBER of a gang of ram raiders who smashed into a Co-Op before dragging out an ATM filled with tens of thousands of pounds has been jailed.

Danny O’Loughlin, of Waterloo Street in Cheltenham, was only caught after an hour-long police chase of speeds of up to 100 mph after the attack at the Watlington store around 2am on June 21.

RECAP - Original report after ram-raid and high-speed chase.

The 21-year old, who had denied his inolvement after arrest, went on to admit one count of burglary, dangerous driving, aggravated vehicle taking and driving without insurance.

Oxford Mail:

Oxford Crown Court heard at his sentencing hearing on Tuesday how O’Loughlin, together with an unidentified gang of men, had used one of two stolen 4x4 vehicles to plough into the supermarket.

They then used a rope to haul a cash machine out onto the street before trying unsuccessfully to pry it open and steal the £68,050 worth of cash inside, using an angle grinder.

Neighbours, hearing the commotion, called police who descended on the Crouching Street store before the men fled, leaving the machine lying in the street.

Prosecutor John Waller told the court that O’Loughlin next got behind the wheel of one of the stolen Audis before driving at high speed in a chase across two counties.

Helicopter footage of the end of the chase, played to the court, showed one police car slam into the Audi driven by O’Loughlin before a second swarms on him, pushing the car off the road and bringing the chase to an end.

Police soon after found an angle grinder stashed inside the car before O’Loughlin was arrested.

Despite initially denying his involvement in the failed theft he went on to admit all charges ahead of his trial but refused to name any of his accomplices, the court heard.

In mitigation, Jane Brady, defending, said that her client had been 'naive' and 'exploited' by the gang and that he was 'remorseful' at what he had done.

Sentencing, Judge Peter Ross said: "Over the summer of this year there were a number of attacks on ATMs in small market towns.

"These country ATMs of the type that feature in this case provide an essential commodity to local communities as more and more banks reduce there presence.

"This was a determined, planned and utterly brazen attack."

O’Loughlin was jailed for a total of 44 months and banned from driving for three years.