Bringing Down the Gooch – Real Crime

Monday, 27 September 2010, 10:35PM – 11:35PM

Bringing Down the Gooch tells the fascinating story of the specialist police team who took down the leaders of feared criminals, the Gooch Gang, who brought murder and mayhem to the streets of Manchester.

Presented by Mark Austin and using previously unseen before footage of the gang, the documentary tells the story of a city which was so plagued by gun crime that it became known as Gunchester by the press.

Featuring CCTV footage from crime scenes, interviews with forensic and ballistic experts and tapes documenting police interviews with the gang members, the programme provides a detailed insight into an investigation which led to the most severe jail terms in Manchester gangland history.

And, in emotional interviews, the families of victims murdered by the gang give their side of the story.

Mark tells the programme how two Manchester gangs, the Gooch Gang and the Doddington Gang lived side by side on a Manchester estate for many years until 1991 when a shooting sparked a conflict which encompassed in excess of two dozen murders in the last 20 years.

Detective Constable Rod Carter shows Real Crime around the streets of the Moss Side area of Manchester and points out the locations where young men, some still at school, were shot in gang attacks.

CCTV footage shows gangs wearing body armour under their tracksuits, and DC Carter explains how the two leaders of the Gooch Gang had adapted their jeans so that they could carry firearms.

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Eckersley was put in charge of bringing the gangs down. He tells the programme that the two leaders of the Gooch Gang, Colin Joyce and Lee Amos were involved in criminal use of firearms, gang homicides and the distribution of Class A drugs, including heroin and cocaine.

Exclusive footage from a home video shows the gang at a party together.

The programme explains that the police were finally able to close in on the notorious gang leaders after two killings that investigators believe were revenge for the murder of Amos’ brother, Stephen.

The first victim was Ucal Chin, a father-of-two who was loosely connected to the Longsight Crew, a branch of the Doddington Gang, which the Gooch Gang believed was responsible for the shooting of Amos’ brother.

Ucal, who had been trying to distance himself from gang activities, was driving a red Renault Megane when a silver Audi S8 pulled alongside him and fired seven shots into his car in broad daylight. Four bullets hit Ucal and he died.

Real Crime features moving interviews from Ucal’s mother and sister.

The police had no witnesses who had seen the identity of the gunman and no weapon after the shooting, but the programme explains how, using bullets found at the scene, ballistics experts were able to identify the firearm used. DCI Eckersley reveals that they knew this kind of weapon was one favoured by the Gooch Gang.

CCTV footage also played a part in leading police to Ucal’s killers. The documentary features footage of the Megane travelling through Manchester, closely pursued by the Audi. Images from a nearby building’s security camera show the final moments of Ucal’s life, when the Audi was alongside the Megane.

A witness was able to provide the police with half of the Audi’s number plate and they explain how, using the Police National Computer, they were able to identify the car as one which was bought by members of the Gooch Gang.

Whilst the investigation was underway, Ucal’s family and friends gathered for his wake and the Gooch Gang struck again. As the wake moved out into the street, two cars drove down the road and opened fire on the group of mourners.

Twenty-four-year-old Tyrone Gilbert, who was about to become a father for the fourth time, was shot and killed His sister talks to the programme about her brother.

CCTV footage showed two vehicles pulling up at the scene, and one of the cars was later recovered. DC Carter shows Real Crime the car, complete with bullet holes and home-made blacked out windows.

A balaclava was discovered snagged on barbed wire near to the car. Forensic experts tell the programme how they managed to examine it to get a DNA sample and fibres which proved it was worn in the car.

Joyce and Amos were arrested and Real Crime features the recordings of their police interviews. Joyce refused to comment on any of the questions asked and Amos remained completely silent for three days whilst questioned.

However, Mark explains that their silence was not enough to save them and they were charged with murder.

As they and nine other members of the gang awaited trial, the police explain the lengths they had to go to, to protect the witnesses who were terrified of the Gooch Gang.

One of the witnesses received a phone call made by one of the defendants from his cell. In the phone call, which was recorded by the witness and is featured in the documentary, the defendant begs the witness not to give evidence and says he can’t handle being in jail.

Detective Chief Inspector Janet Hudson says: “You couldn’t write it, could you? You couldn’t ever expect that that was actually going to happen. And I‘ve not spoken to that witness since, but he got through it.”

As the trial started, voice distortion, screens and covert routes in and out of the court were used to protect the witnesses. Ucal and Tyrone’s families describe to the programme the atmosphere in the court room as the Gooch Gang stood in the docks and shouted abuse.

Following the trial, Joyce was convicted of both murders and ordered to serve a minimum of 39 years in prison. Amos was convicted of Tyrone’s murder and ordered to serve a minimum of 35 years, but the jury failed to reach a verdict about his alleged involvement in the killing of Ucal.

DC Carter says: “I think the sentences these individuals received just shows how seriously their offences and their criminality have been taken by the judicial system. The fact that they’ve both got longer minimum recommendations than Peter Sutcliffe got, says something.”

Since the sentencing, Greater Manchester Police have used posters with aged images of Joyce and Amos, showing what they could look like when they are released, to deter gang members from further activity.