Armed gang who hit shops across Coventry and Warwickshire jailed for more than 40 years

The three men targeted shops, and even a nightclub and a visitor attraction, in what the judge described as an "epidemic"



Three armed robbers waged a five-month campaign of terror at convenience stores across Coventry and Warwickshire, stealing cash and cigarettes worth tens of thousands of pounds

One of the gang, Anthony Collier, who also took part in a raid at Hatton Country World where a woman was told her fingers would be hacked off, was jailed for 18 years.

Collier, aged 31, of Murray Road, Coundon, pleaded guilty at Warwick Crown Court to robbery, two separate charges of conspiracy to rob and one of dangerous driving.

Thomas Rawbone, aged 26, of Brinklow Road, Binley, and Darren Irwin, aged 34, of Delius Street, Tile Hill, admitted conspiring to rob the shops and were both jailed for 11-and-a-half years.

Prosecutor Mary Loram said the main conspiracy involved 13 robberies at shops in Coventry and Warwickshire between December 2014 and May 2015, although the defendants had entered their pleas on the basis that each of them was not involved in every raid.

Jailing the three men, Judge Richard Griffith-Jones told them: “Throughout our communities there are retail outlets which remain open for long and unsocial hours.

“They sell items, for example cigarettes, which if stolen are easy for a criminal to sell for cash.

“You three are part of a professional, planned and ruthless conspiracy to take advantage of the ease with which these soft targets can be hit. What you did was frightening. It was designed to be frightening.

“The most serious one of you is you, Collier, and you are before me for two matters which pre-date the conspiracy with your co-accused.”

After jailing the three, Judge Griffith-Jones praised the police, singling out and commending West Midlands officers Dc Bevis Johnson and Ds Gareth Mitchell.

He said: “I have no doubt it took a lot of hard work and skill on the part of the police and the engagement of the community and of the businesses affected to get together and make sure this epidemic was eradicated.”

Considering the number of their raids I think they got away quite lightly.