Armed gang told to give back £25,000 or stay longer in prison

The gang struck 11 times in four months, including in a raid on Laxmi jewellers in Wednesbury Road, Walsall.

Ryan Jones and Qaiser Rashid, both of Walsall, along with Imran Zaman and Lewis Richards, both of Birmingham, are said to have benefited from the crime spree to the tune of more than £110,000.

But during a proceeds of crime hearing at Wolverhampton Crown Court yesterday, the four were ordered to pay back a total of £25,000. The gang was jailed last year after admitting conspiracy to rob.

A judge sitting at court yesterday said they had been part of a gang of 'opportunist get rich quick types'. It comes after ringleader Waheed Zaman, of Great Barr, was ordered to repay just £9,000.

Prosecutors had claimed he had benefitted from his crimes by around £41,740.

Four members of an armed gang of robbers, including two from Walsall, who targeted jewellers, a bookmakers and homes will face longer behind bars unless they repay £25,000.

Ex-Coventry City footballer Ryan Jones and Qaiser Rashid, both of Walsall, together with Imran Zaman and Lewis Richards, both of Birmingham, were said to have benefited to the tune of £111,081.56 during the crime spree.

The gang struck at least 11 times in four months, escaping with luxury cars and goods worth hundreds of thousands of pounds. They were jailed last year after admitting conspiracy to rob between October 2010 and January 2011.

A proceeds of crime hearing at Wolverhampton Crown Court was told financial investigators believed Jones, of Watermere, Shelfield, benefited from £44,293.31. He had assets including a watch, Renault Clio and cash.

The 23-year-old, who was jailed for nine years when sentenced, was ordered to pay £11,236.51.

Assets

The court heard that 28-year-old Rashid, of Drayton Street, Alumwell, who is serving a five-year prison sentence, had been uncooperative during the investigation and was ordered to repay the full amount sought, which totalled £9,873.

They will have to pay within six months or face another six months behind bars.

Zaman, 24, of Edwards Street, Birmingham, serving a nine-year term, was said to have benefited from £13,438.25, with assets including a Mini Cooper.

However, Judge Michael Challinor said he was satisfied the car was his mother's and ordered him to repay just £29.80, or spend another day in prison.

It was claimed that Richards, 22, of Brockwell Road, Kingstanding, who was sent down for six-and-a-half years, had benefited from £43,477.

His assets included a watch and he was told to pay £4,230 within six months or face another three months in jail.

Judge Challinor said: "I'm left with the overwhelming impression these young men were part of a gang of opportunistic get rich quick types. They sold the jewellery quickly at a significant under value and spent the cash they received."

It comes after the gang's ringleader Waheed Zaman, of Calshot Road, Great Barr, who is serving a 10-year prison term, was ordered to repay just £9,000, despite prosecutors claiming he benefited from £41,740. In one raid, the robbers escaped with £9,000 worth of gold rings in just 25 seconds after battering down the entrance to Laxmi jewellers in Walsall.