High Wycombe vandalism spree: Waqar Jamil, Iftikar Aslam, Waqus Yasin, Khurum Hanif and Aqib Jawaid plead guilty to criminal damage

Five young men have been convicted of a series of offences, including criminal damage, theft of a motor vehicle and arson after more than 300 cars were targeted during a two month rampage.

Between March and May hundreds of vehicles were damaged. Four of the men have now been jailed for their part in the attack which caused wide-spread concern amongst residents.

TIMELINE: How events unfolded across High Wycombe between March and May.

After a lengthy investigation, Waqar Jamil, 20, Iftikar Aslam, 22, Waqus Yasin, 21, Khurum Hanif, 20, and Aqib Jawaid, 18, pleaded guilty and four of them were sentenced on Wednesday.

Two of the men have also pleaded guilty for a spate of arson attacks in Castlefield in December last year, when twelve cars were destroyed in less than three hours.

Picture of damage after Castlefield arson attacks.

LPA Commander for Wycombe, Supt Ed McLean said: “I would like to highlight just what a complicated and difficult investigation this has been.

“My officers and staff have worked tirelessly to catch and convict those responsible for this unnecessary and unprecedented series of criminal damage which I know, affected so many in Wycombe.

“I would like to place on record my thanks to the community and key partner agencies for their assistance and for coming forward to help us identify and bring the offenders to justice.

“Wycombe continues to be a safe place to live, socialise and work and we will do everything we can to keep it that way.”

The convictions and criminal behaviour orders follow a wide-scale investigation into a series of more than 300 criminal damages to vehicles which occurred in the Castlefield, Booker and Cressex areas of High Wycombe between March and May 2015.

The men, who are all from High Wycombe, pleaded guilty to the offences at  Aylesbury Crown Court sitting at Amersham on Wednesday.

The court case followed an investigation into a series of criminal damage offences to vehicles that took place in High Wycombe on March 14 and April 9.

Police horse patrols were called out during Wycombe vandalism spree.

A police investigation is continuing and four men from High Wycombe remain on police bail.

Det Sgt Dave Percival of Wycombe CID said: “Following a long and protracted investigation, five individuals have been convicted of causing mindless criminal damage.

“For those intent on committing these types of anti-social crimes, our investigation team will work continuously until all those responsible are held to account for their actions.”

• Waqar Jamil, 20, of Alford Road: Pleaded guilty to causing damage to a series of vehicles belonging to others without lawful excuse on March 14, 2015. Sentenced to five months’ imprisonment and ordered to pay compensation (£350), costs (£150) and a victim surcharge (£80).

• Iftikar Aslam, 22, of Chiltern Avenue: Pleaded guilty to theft of a motor vehicle, causing damage to a series of vehicles belonging to others without lawful excuse and arson on April 9. Sentenced to 10 months imprisonment, five months imprisonment and 15 months respectively and had to pay a victim surcharge (£100).

• Waqus Yasin, 21, of Rutland Avenue: Pleaded guilty to theft of a motor vehicle, causing damage to a series of vehicles belonging to others without lawful excuse and arson on April 9. Sentenced to 10 months’ imprisonment, five months imprisonment and 15 months respectively and had to pay a victim surcharge (£80).

• Khurum Hanif, 20, of Rutland Avenue: Pleaded guilty to theft of a motor vehicle, causing damage to a series of vehicles belonging to others without lawful excuse and arson on April 9. He also pleaded guilty to a series of arsons to vehicles on or about 11 December 2014. Hanif was sentenced to five years imprisonment for arson and 10 months imprisonment, five months imprisonment and 15 months imprisonment relating to theft, criminal damage and arson offences on April 9 2015.

All of the sentences will run concurrently.

• Aqib Jawaid, 18, of Deeds Grove: Pleaded guilty to theft of a motor vehicle, causing damage to a series of vehicles belonging to others without lawful excuse and arson on April 9. He also pleaded guilty to a series of arsons to vehicles on or about 11 December 2014. He will be sentenced at Aylesbury Crown Court on November 4.

Iftikar Aslam, Khurum Hanif, Waqus Yasin and Waqar Jamil are all subject to the following prohibition order:

Being in possession of any item, save for cigarettes, used to light or cause fire or any item which may be used as an accelerant of fire whilst in a public place; (not applicable to Waqar Jamil).

Being in or on any private motor vehicle whilst in company with any of the specified persons, those being: Iftikar Aslam, Khurum Hanif, Waqus Yasin, Waqar Jamil and Aqib Jawaid.

Deliberately touching or entering any unattended vehicle without the permission of the owner;

Possessing or instructing or encouraging any other person to have in their possession a tap hammer, other than in a commercial garage.