Armed robbers jailed for violent robberies across Birmingham and Staffordshire
A trio of robbers who committed violent attacks on homes and businesses across the West Midlands have been jailed for a total of 24 years and 10 months.
Birmingham Crown Court heard how the trio carried out robberies in Sutton Coldfield, Walsall and Staffordshire and stole thousands of pounds in cash before being intercepted by a police operation.
Brothers Kurtis richards aged 22 and Louis Richards aged 24 from Brockwell Road, Kingstanding and a 16 year old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, began carrying out the month-long crime spree on Sunday 4 January.
Their first robbery was at the Holly Bush pub in Lichfield which they stormed into before threatening staff and customers with metal poles. They dragged the manager by his hair to the safe before making off with nearly £2,000.
Their next target was a house in Reddicap Heath Road, Sutton Coldfield, on 5 January. They forced entry to the house and demanded the occupants to hand over the keys to a silver BMW which they stole from the drive and used to commit four armed robberies.
In the following days they attempted to rob the Foley Arms pub and the Select and Save shop in Streetly armed with metal poles – but on both occasions they left empty handed. Then on 8 January they turned their attention to the Stick and Wicket Cricket club in Aldridge, Walsall. They threatened staff with metal poles and forced customers to the ground before fleeing with £15,000 and two bottles of alcohol.
The following day, 9 January, they stole two cars from a house in Sutton Coldfield; the cars were later recovered from the Kingstanding area close to where they lived.
The final two robberies took place on the 5 February – the first at Honeybourne in Tamworth where a driver was asked for directions, punched in the face and his car stolen. They went on to commit their final robbery at Blake Barn Pub in Sutton Coldfield – again threatening staff with metal poles before making off with £4,500.
A metal bar seized by forensics from the boot of the stolen Mazda was identical to the one caught on CCTV during the offences.
A pre-planned operation was carried out in early February to arrest the trio, which resulted in the 16-year-old being detained on 6 February, Kurtis Richards was arrested at an address in Kingstanding the following day and Lewis Richards was arrested on 12 February in Sheffield.
Forensics and CCTV placed them at the scene along with clothing and Phones that were recovered from addresses linked to them. Also recovered was a key to a stolen Honda Civic used to commit a robbery in Tamworth that was found in Kingstanding.
Appearing at court on Friday 6 November the Richards brothers were sentenced to 19 years and 10 months in prison and the 16-year-old was handed a five year sentence at a detention centre.
Detective Chief Inspector Simon Wallis from the Serious Organised Crime Unit said: “Thankfully no one was seriously hurt but it is still hard to imagine the sheer terror suffered by good, honest, hardworking people as a result of their actions.
“They have affected many lives with their violence and two of them have continued to carry out these armed robberies whilst already on licenced release from prison for similar offences.
“The sentences reflect the serious nature of these crimes and means that they cannot continue to offend in such a manner across the West Midlands.
“I want to personally thank the victims and witnesses who helped us with the investigation, we are grateful for their help and support and also to my officers who have worked tirelessly to bring the trio to justice.”
