Wanted robber who taunted police found

Shaun Chamberlain (30) was arrested at a property on Wingfield Road in Athersley, Barnsley, in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Chamberlain, from Bolton-on-Dearne, was charged with robbery in September, but failed to appear for trial at Sheffield Crown Court in March and was sentenced, in his absence, to four years in prison.

He was part of a Mexborough-based gang called the Pitsmoor Shotter Boys who robbed Luke Pendlebury, a 4ft 3ins dwarf actor, of his £17,000 Range Rover in Mexborough.

A warrant was issued for his arrest, but in a Facebook posting Chamberlain taunted the police and said: “They lookin' so hard I've just been in shop at the side of a cop lmfao.”

A South Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said: “He has evaded police for a number of months however extensive enquiries continued and officers persistently pursued and followed up all leads, and he is now in police custody until his appearance at Sheffield Crown Court.

“In addition to the four years for robbery, at the sentencing in March, it was also made clear that when he was arrested and brought back before the courts, he was likely to receive an additional sentence for his failure to appear.

“Officers would like to thank the public for their help and support with the appeals issued over recent months in a bid to locate Chamberlain.”

Nine other members of The Pitsmoor Shotter Boys pleaded guilty on the day the trial was due to start.

The court heard the gang brought misery to a community, believed they ruled its streets and thought they were above the law.

They were jailed for more than 33 years in total for a range of offences and incidents including violent disorder, drug possession, witness intimidation and robbery.

Luke Blakemore (22), Chad Hatton (19) and Kieran Blakemore (20), were all arrested for drugs offences on January 26, 2015, when a warrant was executed at Hattons address on Schofield Street in Mexborough.

The trio were found in possession of class A and B drugs.

Twelve days later, John Gilliver (27), Joshua Roddis (21), Lyndon Atkinson (34), Stephanie Oldfield (25) and Lewis Roberts (20), were involved in a violent incident at The Montagu Arms public House in Mexborough in which they used weapons including bottles, pool balls and golf clubs to damage the premises and cause fear and violence.

The third incident involved Luke Blakemore, Roddis, Ryan Taylor (23) and Chamberlain who were all charged with a robbery.

Gilliver was also charged with witness intimidation in connection with the incident.

The sentences were as follows:

Luke Blakemore,  of Laburnun Road, Mexborough, 13-years and 6 months for robbery and three counts of possession with intent to supply class A drugs.

Chad Hatton, of Schofield Street, Mexborough, 4-years and 6-months for possession with intent to supply class A drugs.

John Gilliver, of Schofield Street, 3-years and 8-months for violent disorder and witness intimidation.

Joshua Roddis, of Schofield Street, 3-years and 6-months for robbery and violent disorder.

Ryan Taylor, of Schofield Street, Mexborough, 2-years and 6-months for robbery.

Kieran Blakemore, of Schofield Street, 9-months suspended for 18-months for possession of a class B drug.

Stephanie Oldfield, of Schofield Street, 4-months suspended for 24-months for violent disorder.

Lewis Roberts of Hawthorne Crescent, Mexborough, 4-months suspended for 12-months for violent disorder

Lyndon Atkinson of Hunger Hill Road, Whiston, 3-months suspended for 12-months for violent disorder.