Spon End couple jailed after beating and robbing 66-year-old man at knifepoint

[dutchman]

The victim has since died from an unrelated illness



A Coventry couple have been jailed after following a man back to his home where they beat and robbed him at knifepoint. Henry Angus and Claire Birch followed the 66-year-old back from a shop in Coventry in August 2021.

Birch, 58, punched the "vulnerable man" in the face while Angus, 29, used the victim's own kitchen knife to threaten him. The pair also cut the wires on his house phone to prevent him calling for help before taking his bankcard and leaving to withdraw money.

Police say a witness saw the couple leave the man's flat and when he questioned them on why they were there, Angus and Birch said they were friends with him. After watching CCTV, West Midlands Police identified the couple, who were not known to the victim, and arrested them the following day.

Angus and Birch, both of Upper Spon Street, Coventry, pleaded guilty to robbery at Warwick Crown Court. On Tuesday, March 8, Angus was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in prison and Birch to seven-and-a-half years.

Detective Constable Mel Oldershaw, from West Midlands Police CID, said: “I’m really pleased to see this couple jailed for this robbery. This was an attack on a vulnerable man who was unable to defend himself and they made sure he couldn’t call anyone for help.

“I hope this result brings the victim’s family some closure, in what has been a really difficult few months for them all.”

The victim has sadly died since this incident following an unrelated illness.

[dutchman]

Angus and Birch, both of Upper Spon Street

As far as I can tell they're from Meadow House which is in Meadow Street but it's not unusual for people around here to not know their own postal address.