A Colombian man who was part of a gang that stole £64,000 from older people withdrawing cash has been deported. Armet Cortes would linger around cash machines and banks before selecting vulnerable victims, such as lone women.
He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal and was jailed in September 2025 for three years and eight months at Newcastle Crown Court.
Deportation and Gang Activity
The Home Office said the deportation showed the government's commitment to tackling High Street crime. Another gang member was deported earlier this year. They had targeted people in locations including Sunderland, Newcastle and Hexham. They also operated in Scarborough and London.
Newcastle Crown Court heard the gang would distract their victims and were prepared to use intimidation and force to get money from them. One woman had £15,000 stolen after the gang left coins on the ground and asked if they were hers.
Methods and Impact
The gang looked for people "discreetly taking out large amounts of cash", then used "silent, skilled and subtle signs" to gesture to each other about the victim they had identified.
The Home Office said that on another occasion the gang waited inside a bank while a woman withdrew £10,000. She was then followed home on a bus, where one gang member faked a fall and injury. When the woman stopped to help, the gang entered her property and stole the bag containing the cash.
Another victim had to delay her retirement and return to work because of the financial loss, according to the Home Office.
Official Warning
Anna Turley, Minister of State for Border Security and Asylum, warned deportation "sends a clear message - anyone attempting to cash in on our hospitality will be given a one-way ticket out of the UK".
She said: "This vile criminal targeted vulnerable citizens on our streets, not only stealing significant sums of money but also causing long-term fears and anxiety. His deportation sends a clear message: anyone attempting to cash in on our hospitality will be given a one-way ticket out of the UK. We will continue to work across government to remove these bad actors."
Cortes' fellow gang member Willmer Guzman, also a Colombian national, was deported earlier this year, the Home Office said. Guzman was also serving a prison term of three years and eight months having admitted the same charge of conspiracy to steal.
