Late security van foils Wolverhampton robbery

The delay meant Mark Hindley and Paul Ball spent more time than planned lying in wait and were caught red handed, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

The pair – both on the same stolen motorbike – were forced to wait at the scene for 20 minutes during which they were spotted, explained Mr Patrick O'Sullivan, prosecuting.

He said: "They got there at the time the van should have arrived but it was delayed, they had to spend extra time waiting and were seen casing the joint."

When the vehicle finally reached Showell Circle in Low Hill around 10am on September 25 the security guard in the back with the money saw the motorbike at a standstill outside the post office. He noticed at least one of the men on board had a balaclava hood under his crash helmet and told a colleague to phone 999.

Police were already in the area after being alerted to the suspicious activities of the pair on the stolen Suzuki that had been taken from a garage a month earlier.

The two men tried to flee and rode to a dirt track in Bushbury Villas, which would have been the rendezvous point if the raid had succeeded. They did not have time to transfer to the stolen get away car parked at the spot and were arrested.

Four sets of gloves, a ski mask and balaclava were found in the vehicle. It is believed at least two other members of the gang escaped. Ball was on bail at the time after a terrifying high speed chase through Low Hill on August 19. The 24-year-old accelerated away in a Seat after being seen by a police patrol.

Ball lost control and demolished a £2,000 wall before fleeing to a garage roof where he fought police until sprayed with CS gas.

Mr Jasvir Mann, defending, said: "The two men had a change of heart at the scene and thought better of the robbery. Nobody was threatened or injured."

Hindley, 45, of Broad Street, Bilston, and Ball, from Cannock Road, Wolverhampton, both admitted attempted robbery and handling the stolen motorbike.

Hindley was jailed for four years and Bell, who also pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, was locked up for six years.

Judge Nicholas Webb told the pair: "You both intended to confront the security van crew and rob them of the cash. You had been lying in wait for some time."