Robbers jailed after boy, nine, has axe held over head
Three robbers have been jailed for a combined 29 years after a string of raids on victims including a boy of nine who had an axe held over his head.
Gavin Hunt and brothers Christopher Dixon and Jamie Dixon targeted householders with expensive cars as well as cash and carry staff across the Midlands.
The robberies included:
November 16, 2012 - A family living in Tile Cross Road, Birmingham, had their home broken into by three masked men who demanded the keys to the Audi RS4 on the driveway. It was later recovered in Coleshill, Warwickshire.
January 12, 2013 - Two men wearing balaclavas broke into a house on Western Road, Sutton Coldfield and hit the householder with a crowbar to get him to hand over the keys to his Audi RS6.
January 28, 2013 - Rajinder Auluk was at home with his family on Newton Road, Great Barr, when two men smashed their way through his front door and demanded the keys for their Nissan Pulsar GTR and a Mercedes CLK. Mr Auluks nine-year-old son tried to hide behind the sofa, but one of the men grabbed him and held an axe above his head. The men got away in the Nissan, but left the Mercedes on the drive. They left a sledgehammer at the scene.
Other raids happened at cash and carry stores in Northampton and Warwickshire. Raiders used sledgehammers and crow bars to steal cars, thousands of pounds worth of cigarettes and other items.
Hunt, of Kelynmead Road, Tile Cross, Birmingham, Christoper Dixon of Greenfinch Road, Castle Bromwich and Jamie Dixon of Auckland Drive, Smithswood were sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court. Hunt admitted conspiracy to rob relating to seven raids. Christoper admitted conspiracy to rob relating to six raids, and Jamie admitted the offence in relation to a raid at a home in Northampton.
Hunt, aged 41, received two sentences of 12 years and 10 months, to run concurrently,
Jamie Dixon, aged 32, was sentenced to eight years and ten months as a 'dangerous offender', meaning he must serve two thirds of his sentence before being eligible for parole. Christopher Dixon, aged 29, was jailed for seven years and three months.
Judge Paul Farrer QC described the trio's crimes as being "carefully planned" with "real sophistication", calling the robbery at Mr Auluk's home, a "cowardly and callous act that no right thinking individual would have contemplated."
Dc Damian Forrest said: "We are satisfied with the sentences handed to these dangerous individuals, and that they will no longer be able to terrorise residents in their homes or people at work for cash and cars.
"Thankfully, none of the victims were badly hurt in these robberies, but I have no doubt that the gang would have used serious violence to achieve their objectives if they had not got what they wanted.
"These robberies had a serious effect on the families targeted and I know they are pleased Hunt and the Dixon brothers will spend a considerable amount of time behind bars for what they put them through."
