Stourbridge News, Stourbridge Sport, Stourbridge Leisure - From The Stourbridge News

Robbers reign of terror ends

From the archive, first published Friday 19th Jul 2002.

FIVE men who embarked on a reign of terror as they plundered supermarkets and stores across the borough have been jailed for a total of 16 years.

The men - from around the Black Country - were responsible for a string of increasingly violent ram raids last year.

Among the targets for the raiders between February and June were Kwik Save in Netherton, where they made off with £6,500 worth of cigarettes.

A further five stores were also attacked in Halesowen and Stourbridge by the balaclava clad gang, often while staff were still working.

At Birmingham Crown Court, Judge Laurence Marshall sentenced 24-year-old Dudley man Craig Vowles to four years in prison for carrying out two burglaries, conspiracy to rob and possession of an imitation fire arm with intent to cause fear.

Oldbury man Craig Hickenbottom, aged 20 and a drug addict since the age of eight, was given two concurrent three-year sentences for two attempted robberies plus six months consecutive for possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear.

Getaway driver, 23-year-old Rowley Regis man Dean Issit received 18 months for dangerous driving along with a six-month consecutive sentence for possession of an imitation fire arm with intent to cause fear.

And John Robinson, aged 28 from Tipton, was sentenced to two-and-a-half years for burglary and ordered to serve 350 days from an unexpired licence.

Brierley Hill man Paul Northall, aged 27, received a three-year sentence for robbery and told to serve 300 days from an unexpired licence.

The court heard how the defendants had all suffered troubled childhoods, plagued by drug problems, violent histories and spells in custody.

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