WoolyO Gang Jailed: Gun-Toting Thugs Caged for 41 Years

By Bénédict Tarot Freeman•April 4, 2025•

7 min read

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WoolyO Gang Jailed: Gun-Toting Thugs Caged for 41 Years

Six gang members jailed for 41 years after a major firearms conspiracy investigation by Essex and Metropolitan Police, dismantling the dangerous WoolyO gang.

Six members of a South London gang known as the have been sentenced to a combined total of , following a joint operation by and the .

The case concluded on at , marking the end of a comprehensive, multi-force investigation into a string of , , and spanning several months across London and Essex.

The investigation stemmed from a in Aveley, Essex, on the evening of . Three men had travelled to the area under the pretext of purchasing mobile phones but were instead of in cash. During the attack, one victim was struck by an assailant wielding a , resulting in the firearm’s loaded magazine falling to the ground.

When Essex officers arrived shortly after, the suspects had fled, but the was recovered at the scene.

The following morning, during follow-up enquiries, Essex officers encountered , who was loitering in the same area and claimed he was “cleaning his shoes”. He was found to be carrying a and was arrested on suspicion of weapons offences.

Aidoo’s seized mobile phone later proved to the case. It contained extensive footage of the gang and making references to , including clips of two separate that had taken place weeks earlier in the in South London — incidents already under active investigation by the .

The first of those incidents, in , saw two 9mm casings recovered at the scene, though the intended target was never identified. In the second, a male victim sustained a to the arm in November. The evidence from Aidoo’s device linked the to both shootings and to the Aveley robbery, prompting a between Essex and the Met. A consolidated investigation, with full cooperation from the , was launched in .

Detective Inspector , who led the Essex Police element of the operation, said:

Arrests of the WoolyO gang members were carried out between , culminating in charges relating to and . The trial opened at on .

On day one of proceedings, four defendants — , , and — .

Two other gang members — , born 5 October 2002, of Edington Road, Abbey Wood, London SE2, and , born 22 February 2005, of Sandy Hill Road, London SE18 — and proceeded to trial.

Following an , they were convicted by a jury on of (between 23 October 2023 and 22 November 2023) and (between 19 November 2023 and 15 February 2024).

received a sentence of , while was sentenced to .

Sentences for the four men who pleaded guilty on the first day of trial were handed down as follows:

, born 24 July 2005, of Whitgift Street, London SE11, pleaded guilty to (23 October 2023 to 22 November 2023) and to on 21 November 2023. He was sentenced to ’ imprisonment.

, born 30 January 1996, of Erwood Road, Charlton, London SE7, pleaded guilty to (23 October 2023 to 22 November 2023). He was sentenced to ’ imprisonment.

, born 12 December 2000, of Westhorne Avenue, London SE9, also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence over the same period. He received .

, born 8 October 2001, of Rommany Road, London SE27, pleaded guilty to and . He was sentenced to .

Detective Inspector Adler further stated:

All six defendants were convicted on the strength of , of a live magazine, and with known incidents of gun violence. Across the eighteen-month operation, dozens of officers from both forces contributed to the coordinated effort, which also involved and .

His Honour , in summing up, issued to several officers involved in the investigation in recognition of the that led to the successful disruption of this .

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WoolyO Gang Jailed: Gun-Toting Thugs Caged for 41 Years

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Bénédict Tarot Freeman

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