Evil 'scumbags' wrecked my life - Widow hits out at raiders

As Ross Underwood was jailed for seven years and three months, his 53-year-old victim declared: "They are scumbags without morals."

The mother-of-two told how since the robbery she is scared to go out and scared to come home.

She said:?"No woman should have to live in fear in her own house through no fault of her own. I sleep with a knife under the bed.

"I know I am lucky not to have been badly hurt physically but this has done terrible damage to me mentally. It will be with me for the rest of my life."

Underwood was sentenced yesterday alongside Richard Howell, 37, who had joined him on three appalling robberies although not that at the Woodsetton home of the widow. He was jailed for six years.

The pair dragged another woman from her £22,000 Audi TT in front of her 13-year-old daughter at the Orbital Retail Park in Cannock around 11am on August 13, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

The pair struck with another crook at the Spar in Lapwood Avenue, Kingswinford, the next night, armed with a crowbar, and filled bins with £8,000 worth of cigarettes after threatening women staff.

Howell – who was only freed from jail three months earlier – and Underwood then stole £3,000 cigarettes and cash from the Co-op in Dudley Road West, Tividale.

Six days later, 28-year-old Underwood and two others barged into the home of the widow. The grandmother was alone watching TV in bed when the masked men armed with a crowbar charged into the room.

Mr Hugh O'Brien Quinn, prosecuting, said: "They snatched her mobile phone and she was pushed back when she tried to get out of bed." The raiders took the £10,000 gold Swiss Ebel watch and other jewellery.

Underwood and Howell were arrested in Gornal the following day after being linked to the stolen Audi. It was discovered in a lock-up garage in Rifle Street, Coseley.

Howell, of Carder Crescent, Bilston, and Underwood, of Damson Wharf, Tipton both admitted conspiracy to rob.