A father and son who were part of a gang that led unsuspecting car buyers into horrific robberies have been in prison for more than 30 years.
Mohammed Fareed, 47, was sentenced to 20 years and his son Faisal Farid, 25, to 12 years.
The victims traveled to Oldham and Manchester from across the UK to buy cars advertised on eBay, often at bargain prices.
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From September 2019 to February last year, a total of 14 robberies or attempted robberies were detected by the police.
Some victims were attacked with hammers and machetes, others had guns pointed at them.
A mother was in a robbery in Gorton with her two-year-old after traveling from Dundee with £ 15,000 and yelled as she masked armed men tried to get into her taxi and rob her.
Manchester’s courts are among the busiest in the country, with a large number of cases heard each week.
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They escaped when the taxi drove away.
“It’s hard to imagine a more terrible event involving a woman and her young baby,” said Judge Nicholas Dean QC.
“Those who participated in this robbery, whoever they were, were inconsiderate and did not think about the safety of a woman and her child.”
Another victim was hit with a hammer and £ 16,000 stolen after being flown from Belfast to Manchester and hit by three masked men in Clayton.
During an incident in Oldham, a machete-wielding robber yelled “I’ll chop you to pieces” before £ 11,000 was stolen.
Mohammed Fareed
(Image: GMP)
The judge described Fareed as a “manipulative” criminal who tried to keep a distance from his crimes.
“I have to say I think I haven’t seen a man more manipulative than Mohammed Fareed in my memory,” he said.
“A man who is well versed in keeping himself at a distance from the crime he is involved in.”
The judge said Fareed “pulled the strings” and his son, who described himself as “Fareed the scammer,” acted under his direction and was involved in setting up eBay accounts to attract victims.
Adam Marco, an “employee” involved in two of the incidents, was sentenced to six years in prison.
Adam Marco
(Image: GMP)
He denied wielding weapons or injuring anyone. His DNA was found on a hammer recovered by the police.
Other members of the gang are believed to be at large.
Nicola Gatto defended Fareed, saying he “appeared to have tried to lead a law-abiding life” after being released from prison for drug offenses.
She said he started a business selling massage equipment, but said the proceeds may not have noticed.
Stuart Duke for Farid said he was convicted only once of a “minor” public order incident when he was 18 years old, but Farid admitted he was involved in fraud.
Mr. Duke said Farid, who has never been imprisoned, was raised by his mother as a “decent, law-abiding young man”.
Faisal Farid
(Image: GMP)
He said: “It seems that Mr. Farid has been seduced by the criminal world, he now has a heavy price to pay.”
Adam Lodge for Marco said the defendant was in debt and had also experienced “peer pressure”.
He is ashamed and remorseful.
The judge recognized the “ability” of the officers investigating the “complex” case.
Fareed of Lorne Street, Oldham and Farid, of Lowvale Drive, Oldham were found guilty of conspiracy to robbery, while Marco of Kent Street, Oldham admitted the same offense.
Fareed and Farid are both serving two-thirds of their sentences, Marco half.
A preliminary investigation into criminal offenses is to be initiated.
