Jailed: The violent gang 'fixated' on revenge after the brutal murder of their leader

A gang have been locked up for planning 'revenge' attacks against a rival group who brutally murdered their ‘leader’. Members of the M40 gang stocked up on weapons including machetes and a crossbow, and carried out at least three brutal attacks to avenge the death of John Soyoye .

The attacks were meticulously planned in group chats over three months. The group were handed lengthy sentences at Preston Crown Court today (July 1) following a trial in May in which four defendants were found guilty by a jury of conspiracy to commit murder and another six were found guilty of a conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm with intent. There was crying from the public gallery as the young men, many who were under 18 at the time of the offence, were given lengthy prison sentences.

The offences were in retaliation to the brutal murder of John Soyoye, 16 in Moston on November 5 2020. He was murdered after the M40 gang attacked a Rochdale and Oldham based gang, Representing the Danger (RTD), earlier that day in Piccadilly Gardens.

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In the days following John Soyoye’s murder the M40 gang plotted their revenge in group chats. They then went on to attack young men with machetes in retaliation. The attacks showed a 'significant degree of planning and (were) premeditated', a judge said.

Each defendant had a ‘principal part’ within the criminal conspiracy ‘to kill others or cause GBH where the victims suffered very serious machete wounds’, Judge Sir Julian Goose said.

“There was planning for murder and weapons were taken to seek targets. There was serious harm caused in the attacks. There was planning over a three month period to kill two or