Five men have been jailed for a combined total of nearly 70 years for their roles in a violent aggravated burglary in Selby, which left one of their own gang members dead.
In March 2022, the masked gang, armed with weapons and wearing dark clothing, forced their way into a family home where a couple and their two young children were inside.
The male homeowner was attacked with a crowbar and repeatedly punched, but he fought back to defend his family. During the struggle, he took a knife and stabbed one of the intruders, the sixth member of the gang.
The other offenders fled in a getaway vehicle, leaving the injured member behind.
The homeowner called 999 and attempted to save him, but despite the efforts of paramedics, the man died at the scene.
Police ruled the homeowner had acted in self-defence and no charges were brought against him.
A major investigation was launched, which included a manhunt for the five masked attackers.
Detectives, along with officers from Selby’s local policing team and specialist departments, acted on information and intelligence, and all five men were identified and arrested over the following 48 hours.
They were:
- Alan James Hall, 34, of Selby
- Daniel Welford, 32, of Pontefract
- Max Jackson, 33, of Stockton on the Forest, York
- Kallan Hunt, 35, of no fixed address
- Andrew Richardson, 38, of Doncaster
All denied involvement during interviews, though evidence including CCTV, phone data, DNA and fingerprints placed them together before, during and after the break-in. Hall later claimed a hand injury, linked to blood found at the scene, was caused by a dog bite.
All five were charged with aggravated burglary in October 2023, but the case could not reach trial at Leeds Crown Court until July 2025 due to delays in the system.
Faced with overwhelming forensic evidence, Hall and Richardson changed their pleas to guilty on the first day of trial. Jackson, Welford, and Hunt denied the charge but were unanimously convicted by a jury.
Earlier this month, Jackson and Welford were sentenced to 13 years each. Hall and Richardson received reduced terms of 11 years and four months for their guilty pleas.
Hunt, branded a dangerous offender, was jailed for 19 years with an additional five years on extended licence.
Several members of the police investigation team received Judge’s Commendations for their role in securing the convictions.
Detective Sergeant Jon Kenworthy of North Yorkshire Police’s Major Investigation Team said:
“This was a pre-meditated, violent and distressing attack on the victims, who were home with two very young children.
“Violent acts of this nature committed on North Yorkshire communities are rare but will not go un-punished and our teams will work relentlessly, however long it takes to bring offenders to justice.
“Ultimately this has turned into a fatal incident for one of the perpetrators. Any loss of life is a tragedy to the family and the full circumstances of his death have been impartially and diligently investigated.”
Det Sgt Kenworthy added: “Today’s outcome sends a clear reminder to anyone who decides to go masked up, tooled up intending to cause acts of violence to people and property, of the risks and the consequences, of their decision-making.
“You will find yourself in custody and you will be held to account for your actions – the offenders will now all be spending a considerable amount of time, in their cells reflecting on their poor decision-making that night.
“I commend the actions of the first attending officers who rushed to the scene to try and save the life of the man who was fatally injured as well as secure and preserve the scene. A large police investigation used several departments and specialised officers who were proactive and persistent throughout the investigation to ensure all available evidence was secured.”