THE leader of an armed robbery gang who targeted a security van at a village store has been jailed for seven years.

Sledgehammer-wielding thugs tried to hold up a Group 4 van outside the Select Convenience store in Whalley Road, Simonstone, in July 2008.

But the gang were moments too late and security guards managed to shut an automated telling machine there before they could grab the cash.

Armed raider Christopher Decieco, 29, from, Salford, was one of the raiders, along with getaway driver Anthony Corkovic, 19, who later received a five-year-and-four-month prison sentence.

At Manchester Crown Court he was jailed for his role in the Simonstone raid and other attempted robberies across the north-west.

He admitted charges of conspiracy to rob and possession of heroin with intent to supply.

Decieco had been placed under surveillance by the robbery unit from Greater Manchester Police following the Simonstone incident.

Eight other men were jailed at the Manchester court, after confessing to robbery conspiracy charges. Decieco’s girlfriend Katie Murray, 21, also from Salford, was jailed for eight months for perverting the course of justice at Chester last May.

Det Insp Simon Dowson, of Lancashire Police said the investigation to convict Deieco and Korkovic was ‘long and complex’.

He added: “This was clearly a pre-planned attack involving an organised gang from Manchester who travelled into Lancashire to commit crime thinking they could get away with it.

“It is testament to the professional attitude of the investigating officers and information from the public that these men have been arrested and brought to justice.

“We treat any attack of this nature extremely seriously and will always thoroughly investigate.

“This should send a clear message to criminals who come into Lancashire to commit crime that they will be caught and will go to prison.”

Det Insp Tony Heslop, from Greater Manchester Police’s robbery unit, described Decieco as the gang’s ringleader.