One of the gang’s ringleaders even suffered serious burns in a separate incident due to their reckless activities.

The 10-member group, disguised as workers for a registered business named Elev8 Civils and Utilities Ltd, conducted unauthorised roadworks to access underground power cables. Led by Ross McGinn and Andrew Roberts, the gang carried out at least 54 illegal excavations across the UK, starting in West Derby’s The Dell. Their operations took place in broad daylight, using high-visibility clothing and road signs to appear legitimate.

Despite their convincing appearance, their work was both crude and hazardous. Video footage provided by the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (NWROCU) captured one of their attempts ending in a small explosion, with gang members scrambling to remove equipment from the exposed live cable.

Detective chief inspector Zoe Russo from the NWROCU described the scheme as “highly sophisticated but extremely dangerous”. She noted that the gang used fake utility vans to travel nationwide without raising suspicion. WhatsApp messages revealed group members sharing images of their injuries from electrical explosions. Andrew Roberts even posted a photo of burns to his face after botching a connection attempt, The Liverpool Echo reported.

Electrical expert Andrew Churchman, with 36 years in the industry, examined the gang’s workmanship, deeming it dangerously substandard. “The quality of their cable laying, excavations, and electrical connections was poor, and in some cases, outright hazardous,” he stated.

The gang operated undetected for over three years before being exposed in January 2023. The breakthrough came when police raided an abandoned shop in Bangor, North Wales, discovering a £1.2 million cannabis farm. Due to the extensive tampering with electrical wiring, the building was declared unsafe, delaying further searches.

Investigators confirmed that power had been illegally drawn from the grid. CCTV footage showed men working alongside a van marked with Elev8’s branding. Further evidence surfaced when officers arrested one of the gang members on an unrelated charge, seizing a phone with a WhatsApp group named “Elev8 Civils and Utilities.” The chat contained discussions about work sites, along with incriminating photos and videos.

The gang’s operations spanned Merseyside, the North West, and as far as Dundee and Portsmouth.