Teen in riots gang which raided casino is locked up

A church-goer who was part of a gang that stormed a Black Country casino during the summer riots, stealing thousands of pounds, has been locked up.

Ex-Walsall College student Jordan Pendley broke into Shaftesbury Casino in West Bromwich with masked yobs armed with baseball bats.

Although the 18-year-old did not take any of the £10,700 total himself, he pleaded guilty to burglary with the intention to steal, claiming his judgment was clouded by the death of a friend who was stabbed in a gang attack.

Sentencing him to 18 months detention yesterday, Judge Murray Creed called the raid a "terrifying incident". "The matter you were involved in was plainly a serious incident," he said. "I accept by your plea you weren't involved in the actual robbery but, nevertheless, you are at the back of the group that went in those premises."

Birmingham Crown Court heard Pendley, of Elmwood Gardens in Handsworth Wood, was part of a second wave of raiders who entered the High Street casino on August 8 – on the first day of rioting in the region.

Prosecutor Miss Sara Pratt said the initial group of robbers had gained entry by smashing a window. They vaulted a counter and plundered tills, leaving staff terrified.

Pendley, who was 17 at the time, ran his hand across the reception desk looking for cash but left without taking anything.

Pendley was arrested after police found his fingerprints at the scene.

Miss Caroline Haughey , defending, said her client was a church-goer and a man with good prospects. Judge Creed added: "This matter cannot be dealt with by anything other than a custodial sentence."

After the hearing, Shaftesbury Casino spokesman Sue Savage said she did not feel the sentence was strong enough. "This was a terrifying ordeal for our staff and customers and – even though we appreciate this man did not taking anything himself – we feel 18 months is not a sufficient deterrent," she said.