Darlaston crowbar robbers are given custody

Thomas Cairns and Paul Baxter were armed with a crowbar when they burst into the stores wrenching jewellery from the neck and wrist of staff and stealing cash and cigarettes, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told yesterday.

The duo, aged 18 and 20 respectively, later told police that they had been driven to the targeted addresses by a third unnamed man who has not been traced, said prosecutor Mr Jason Pegg.

The raiders beat Balbinder Singh at his shop, Bal's News in Dangerfield Lane, Darlaston, snatching £1,500 from the till, the court heard. Luckily he escaped with just cuts and bruises.

The victim was cornered as punches and blows from the crowbar rained down on him but managed to hit back with a wooden baton he kept for protection, said Mr Pegg.

Gold jewellery worth £11,500 – two chains and a bracelet – was torn from him and cigarettes were grabbed from the display cabinet before they fled. They had already struck twice, first targeting Warley News in Salop Street, Oldbury where they confronted its owner Ramesh Mattu and told him they were going to "take everything," the court was told.

Mr Mattu said that he was not giving them anything and bundled the pair back towards the doorway, revealed Mr Pegg. But he could not stop them tearing a £1000 gold chain off his neck. Minutes later they failed in a bid to snatch the neck chain of Mr Gurminder Dhillon, boss of Dhillon's News in Cape Hill, Smethwick, the court heard.

Both men admitted two robberies and asked for the attempted robbery – all committed on December 14 – to be taken into consideration.