Gang of four from Northamptonshire who made '˜amateurish' attempt to recover stolen property given community order

Gareth Hubbort, Samanatha Hubbort, Matthew Williams and Elizabeth Williams forced a man into a car in Corby as they believed he was responsible for the theft of rings belonging to Ms Williams’s grandmother.

Northampton Crown Court heard the man was grabbed by the hair and punched causing bruising to his ribs.

The man was driven away in the car but managed to call 999 and keep the line open.

Jeremy Janes, prosecuting, said the gang repeatedly asked the man “where are the rings?” and drove him to his home address and told him to go in and bring them out.

However, the man went into his house locked the door and called the police who arrested all four of them.

All four pleaded guilty to a charge of affray in relation to the incident that happened on June 6, 2013.

Her Honour Judge Lucking said affray was a serious charge but the “exceptional circumstance” of the case meant they did not deserve a custodial sentence.

Judge Lucking said: “It was a fairly amateurish offence that did not display any level of sophistication.”

Gareth Hubbort and Samantha Hubbort, both aged 33, of Jura Close, Corby, and Matthew Williams, aged 26, of Chesil walk Corby and Elizabeth Williams, aged 26, of Bridge Court, Corby, were all sentenced to 50 hours unpaid work.