JAILED: Dangerous thug locked after one-man crime wave
A dangerous thug, who robbed two people and savagely attacked a third in five days during a one-man crime wave, has been jailed for 15 years.
Dwayne Douglas struck first in Silver Birch Road, Parkfield after spotting Jasbir Panesar being dropped off by a taxi at 4am on September 3, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.
As the two men passed each other the 37-year-old defendant asked Mr Panesar for a cigarette but was told he did not have one, explained Miss Saleema Mahmood, prosecuting.
Douglas then demanded a 'couple of quid' and moved closer to the other man who feared he was about to be robbed and told him: 'Don't take me for a fool.'
The defendant pulled out a two feet long metal torque wrench and hit Mr Panesar up to six times around the ribs and on the back of the head where the blow left an open wound and damaged an artery which had to be operated on in hospital.
The following day Douglas approached a student who was waiting at a bus stop in nearby Dixon Street, continued Miss Mahmood. The defendant showed him the torque wrench and asked for money. The student handed over all his change but that was not enough and the robber told him to open his bag but the bus arrived and the victim leapt aboard to safety.
Sales rep Sylvia Woosnam was sitting in her VW Passad outside a shop in Powell Street, Park Village on September 8 when Douglas knocked on the window to ask if she could change a fiver.
He opened the door and climbed into the passenger seat clutching the torque wrench when she declined to help.
Ms Woosnam said later: "I was screaming hysterically. He grabbed my handbag and diary before running off." Miss Mahmood concluded: "These were serious offences committed against strangers by a man with a propensity for violence."
Douglas, who is of no fixed address and has a string of previous convictions, still had the weapon when arrested some time later, the court heard.
He refused to engage with the court process, was not defended by a lawyer and would not leave his cell to attend the sentencing hearing after being convicted by a jury in his absence of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, two robberies and an attempted robbery.
Judge Barry Berlin told him: "You are a very dangerous man who presents a risk of causing serious harm to the public."
Douglas was jailed for 15 years with four years more monitoring than normal when set free after serving at least three quarters of the sentence behind bars.
