Dangerous former gang member on run from police

A dangerous former gang member jailed for string of violent crimes a decade ago is on the run.

Duane Anthony Edwards, aged 32, is wanted by police after breaching the conditions of his licence following his release.

He was originally jailed in 2007 for being part of a Gooch gang robbery plot.

Edwards is from Tindall Street, Reddish, Stockport, and is wanted on recall to prison but has spent Christmas at large. He also has links to Gorton.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said: “Officers working to trace Edwards believe he knows he is wanted and is actively evading arrest.”

Edwards was part of a ‘particularly dangerous group of individuals’ who were known as the Fallowfield Mandem - a splinter group of Manchester’s notorious Gooch gang.

The group were jailed after a plot, led by robber Marvin Berkeley, to kidnap and extort drug dealers. Instead, they picked on innocent people in two attacks - the first in Hyde in February 2007, in which a man was shot in the back.

Two of the gang were driving in Gee Cross when they noticed another car which stopped next to them on Stansfield Road.

The men, both carrying guns, got into the back seat of the victims’ car and told them ‘better do what we say or you’re both gonna get shot.’

The victims were forced to follow the men to a block of flats off Reddish Lane where a third car turned up.

The victims were interrogated about whether they sold drugs and told at gunpoint to arrange a meeting with a friend named on his phone at the back of Frames Snooker Club in Hyde.

When the man arrived he too was kidnapped at gunpoint. He broke free and ran into the nearby Ocean Chippy, but when his friend tried to escape he was shot in the back, kicked in the head and bundled back into the car.

The men were robbed of cash and jewellery before being freed, with the injured man being dumped at Manchester Royal Infirmary.

The same gang was involved in a similar incident in Gorton days later.

Edwards pleaded guilty to offences including conspiracy to kidnap, conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to endanger life and conspiracy to commit robbery.

He was sentenced as a ‘dangerous’ offender - and given an indeterminate sentence for public protection of which he was ordered to serve at least 6 and half years.

Seven others were jailed following the same police operation.

• Anyone with information about Edwards’ whereabouts should contact police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.