Court told of armed gang in car-jack raids

A gang of car-jackers armed with weapons targeted victims in the Black Country to rob them of their vehicles, a jury was told.

Two of them lost their cars, but the third, Joanne Turner, "put up a good fight" when they tried to take her BMW Z4 and the robbers left empty-handed, said Mr Michael Garrett, prosecuting. Brothers Sarfaraz Hussain, aged 23, and Shahbaz Hussain, 21, both of Himley Road, Dudley, each deny two charges of robbery.

A third defendant Nahida Parveen 23, of Pepperbox Drive, Tipton, denies three charges of robbery, possessing an imitation firearm and perverting the course of justice.

Mr Garrett told Stafford Crown Court the case was about a form of robbery referred to as car-jacking.

He said the first victim was Peter Meredith, 78, from Brierley Hill, who was called to his daughter's house in Sheridan Gardens, Sedgley, in the middle of the night on July 30 because her burglar alarm was going off.

When he arrived and got out of his red Ford Fiesta, a male approached him carrying something in his hand which a neighbour who saw it thought might be a gun. He demanded the keys and was joined by an accomplice and they made off in the Fiesta, the court was told.

On August 11, Mrs Turner was driving home in Beech Road, Dudley, in her BMW Z4. She noted she was being followed by another car. As she parked, the car door was opened and Mr Garrett told the court: "It was an attacker and he grabbed hold of the top of her clothing. That's when she started screaming."

Mrs Turner saw a red Ford Fiesta and got part of its registration number which matched Mr Meredith's stolen vehicle.

Mr Garrett said less than 36 hours later, Debbie Green was driving home in her BMW Mini to Swinforge Way in Swindon. As he got out on her drive, a man came running up threatening "give me the keys or I'll shoot you."

The trial continues.