A forensic hit on a stolen vehicle used in an attempted Clavering ATM theft has led to man being jailed for eight years.
Essex Police's serious and organised crime unit led the investigation into Tommy Mitchell, who used the vehicle as he tried to steal an ATM from inside a shop.
Mitchell arrived at the shop, in Stortford Road, shortly after 3am on December 3, 2023.
The shop shutters were then cut to allow entry and a man entered the shop and secured tow ropes to an ATM machine.
Numerous attempts were then made to pull the ATM machine from its standing using a Land Rover Defender.
However Mitchell was unsuccessful, and the alarm was raised.
Mitchell then had no choice but to leave the area empty-handed, and without the Defender.
A significant amount of damage was caused to the shop, which had to be closed for four days - while repairs worth thousands of pounds were carried out over several months.
Police officers arrived and the Defender was seized, and a full forensic examination was carried out.
As part of that examination, a swab of the steering wheel was tested for DNA which matched Mitchell’s. It was so accurate that the likelihood of it being wrong was set at one billion to one.
A tow strap used in the attempted theft also had serial number which allowed police to connect it to a separate theft, also linked to Mitchell.
Officers from the serious and organised crime unit then began a manhunt and Mitchell was subsequently arrested in a neighbouring force area.
He was then charged with conspiring to commit burglary with intent to steal in relation to this incident.
Mitchell, 25, of Skeltons Drove (CORR), Beck Row, Suffolk, admitted the Clavering offence. He also opted to then admit similar offences across force areas and was sentenced to a total of eight years in jail when he appeared at Aylesbury Crown Court.
Detective Chief Inspector Justin Beacher, who oversaw the investigation, said: "The only thing Tommy Mitchell accomplished with his attempts was to severely disrupt a family business – and one which has been a staple in the area for some time.
"Rural ATMs in local businesses such as this can be a lifeline for our older and more vulnerable residents – and we don’t tolerate any attempt to impact upon them.
"Thankfully, the repairs which were required were able to be made and the shop re-opened as soon as it possibly could."
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DCI Beacher added: "The number of attempts made by Mitchell to dislodge the ATM show his clear intent to steal the unit – but ultimately, he was entirely unsuccessful.
"In fact, his repeated attempts using the Land Rover Defender proved to be his undoing as we were able to get an incredibly strong DNA match to him and ultimately track him down and make sure he answers for his crime and is appropriately sentenced."
Mitchell received his prison sentence for all offences on February 26.
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