Armed yobs jailed for raid at flat

Three armed thugs who launched a terrifying 40-minute raid on a flat during which a "vulnerable" 50-year-old was beaten and robbed was today starting jail sentences totalling more than 30 years.

Aaron Rowbottom targeted the victim after befriending the sick widower who lived alone and also had difficulty walking, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard yesterday.

The 34-year-old was allowed inside after calling unexpectedly at the 12th floor tower block home of the victim and then opened the front door for Timothy Partridge, 47, and 41-year-old Richard Homer, who were both masked, said prosecutor Bernard Linnemann.

The gang were armed with a screwdriver and chisel and ransacked the property, even going through the pockets of the helpless victim, the court was told.

They demanded the victim's bank card PIN number and punched him in the face, continued Mr Linnemann.

Coincidentally a genuine friend of the victim was about to call at the flat in Wesley Court, Cradley Heath, when he heard the commotion inside and recognised the raised voice of Rowbottom.

The man left the scene and called police who arrived in time to catch Rowbottom leaving the block of flats with the credit card of the victim, which he had intended to use to withdraw money from a nearby cash point, the court heard.

Officers arrested the other attackers as the pair were preparing to flee from the flat with their haul of £30 cash, loose change and electrical goods.

They had also taken an earring that had belonged to the late wife of the victim and had been kept for sentimental value, said Mr Linnemann.

The court heard that the victim paid a high psychological price for the raid despite all the stolen property being recovered and later told police:

"I will never get over it." Simon Hanns, defending, said: "It had been 40 minutes of madness."

Partridge, of Trinity Road, Stourbridge; Homer from St Georges Road, Dudley; and Rowbottom of Northfield Road, Netherton, all admitted the February 23 robbery and were each jailed for 10-and-a-half years.

Judge Martin Walsh told the trio: "Each of you has an extensive and persistent history of offending.

"Your victim was vulnerable, unwell and immobile. He was terrified by what you did inside his own home address."