Swindon gang jailed after attempted burglary in Torquay
The group, who identified the victims from Instagram, were caught after a bungled burglary attempt led police straight to them.
Two criminals who kidnapped a man from a house in Torquay after attempting to steal his watches, have been jailed along with four other members of a gang who planned coordinated house burglaries in the south of England.
The group, who identified the victims from social media platform Instagram, were caught after a bungled burglary attempt in January 2026 led police straight to them.
All six were sentenced on Tuesday 14 July to a total of 49 years in prison following their appearance at Exeter Crown Court.
Detectives from Devon and Cornwall Police's Serious and Organised Crime Unit launched the investigation into the Swindon based group in January 2026 and soon linked them to others similar crimes across the Southwest.
The men, were all from Swindon, pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit a burglary dwelling with intent to steal. They have received the following sentences:
Franklin O’Dwyer, aged 25, of Ermin Street, also pleaded guilty to be false imprisonment and possession with intent to supply cannabis. He has been sentenced to 10 years and five months.
Altan O’Connell, aged 27, of Highdown Way, also pleaded guilty to kidnap, false imprisonment and handling stolen goods. He has been sentenced to 11 year and 10 months.
Alton O’Connell was also sentenced for dangerous driving and possession of cocaine following a police pursuit which started in Queens Drive in Swindon on 19th October 2025 whereby he failed to stop for police and a pursuit ensued.
Luke McInerney, aged 31, of Bath Road, also pleaded guilty to kidnap, false imprisonment, handling stolen goods and possessing counterfeit currency. He has been sentenced to 11 years and 10 months.
Nicholas O’Dwyer, aged 56, of Groundswell Road, also pleaded guilty to possessing counterfeit currency. He has been sentenced to six years and three months.
Dwain Stratford, aged 35, of Beech Avenue, has been sentenced to four years and eight months.
Karl Houghton, aged 36, of Elgin Drive, has been sentenced to 4 years.
All defendants were handed a two-year driving disqualification which will be delayed until their interim release date. O’Connell who was banned for three years.