JAILED: Asda samurai sword carjackers locked up for six years each

The victim was threatened and forced from her Audi Q3 car at Asda in Wednesbury Oak Road, Tipton, just after 4.30pm on March 10, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

The woman had driven to Asda to collect shopping she had ordered in advance.

She parked outside the store with driver's window open and was looking for the barcode needed to collect her shopping when John Whyte and Jac Vaughan approached her vehicle, walking up to the open window.

Vaughan produced the samurai sword, showed her the weapon and told her to get out of the car, at which point she "ran for her life", the court was told.

Both defendants got into the car and drove off – with Whyte in the driver's seat and Vaughan in the front passenger seat. Police were already in the area and a pursuit ensued, with Whyte refusing to stop.

Whyte drove out of a side road into a main road and crashed into another vehicle, causing serious damage to both cars and injuring the driver of the other car.

The court was told Vaughan did not cause any problem when being arrested but Whyte was racially abusive to Constable Singh and was then threatening and abusive to Pc Wright in the back of the police car, which was captured on video.

Victim impact statements, referred to in court, said the woman had suffered from flashbacks, was finding it difficult to sleep, had been too scared to drive and did not like being alone.

She had been prescribed anti-depressants and signed off work. The court heard she had said "I can't express how badly this has affected every part of my life".

Whyte, 36, of Stuart Crescent, in Kates Hill, Dudley, had previously pleaded guilty to robbery, dangerous driving, assaulting an emergency worker and a racially aggravated public order offence.

Vaughan, 24, of Churchfield Avenue, Tipton, had admitted robbery and possession of an offensive weapon at an earlier hearing.

James Bruce, prosecuting told the court both defendants had previous convictions – with Whyte having 12 convictions for 33 offences, and Vaughan 10 convictions for 22 offences. Vaughan was also subject to a suspended sentence when the offence was committed.

Defending Whyte, David Iles, said: "I can honestly say his remorse is very genuine. I asked him why he was in Tipton that day and it appears he was looking for his 12-year-old son who was only found the next day in Birmingham.

"My client is a recovering alcoholic and on that day in question, he had at least one alcoholic drink. I asked for his recollection and he was not able to assist, that one drink or more than one, went straight to his head. He does not remember.

"He can only apologise to the complainant and police officers. He apologises profusely."

Mr Justin Jarmola, defending Vaughan, said: "There is a genuine apology and remorse from my client. His mother's note refers to him having lost his father as a young teenager."

Judge Simon Ward sentenced Whyte to six years and nine months and Vaughan to six years in prison.

Whyte was also disqualified from driving. A destruction order was put in place for the sword.

Judge Ward said: "On March 10 the pair of you were together in Tipton. Vaughan, for some reason, had a samurai sword – it has been described as knife, but it is not, it was a samurai sword. The pair of you walked across the road where the victim was sat in her car and intended to rob her of it.

"When someone's life has been affected to this extent that their quality of life it is serious psychological harm. I hope it will not be permanent, but it is long-lasting.

"Whyte you are 36 years old and have been in trouble since you were 16 for all kinds of offences. Vaughan you are 24 years old and you also started offending at 16, with a number of offences. And for the crimes I sentence you for, you were not long into a suspended sentence."