Violent teenage burglars sent video of stolen car to victim
ARUTHLESS gang of teenage burglars terrorised Birmingham and Solihull residents in their homes before stealing their cars and sending pictures of them to the victims.
One victim had a meat cleaver held to his throat while a family was chased out of their home and down the street by armed intruders.
In another incident, a previously fit and healthy victim died three days after the attack on his home.
Now Dylan Harrison, 18, of Solihull Lane, Hall Green, who had previously admitted five charges of robbery and two of attempted robbery, has been sentenced to 12 years detention for the crimes.
A 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, who had previously pleaded guilty to four robbery charges, two of attempted robbery and one of handling stolen goods, was sentenced to nine years and nine months.
The spree started on February 3 this year at a five-bedroom semi in Solihull, where the victim heard shouting. When he opened his door, he was confronted by three men wearing balaclavas and armed
with claw hammers and a meat cleaver.
They were demanding the keys to his £21,000 VW Golf, money and jewellery.
“One of the men held the meat cleaver to his throat and he believed he was going to be killed,” said Mohammed Hafeez, prosecuting at Birmingham Crown Court.
He could also hear his sister screaming in the next room and decided to rugby tackle one of the intruders.
While he was fighting with him on the floor, the other gang members hit him with hammers. The victim was later sent an Instagram image of the attackers standing next to his car, the court heard.
The gang struck again four days later at another house in Solihull, taking another Golf, worth £31,000, after breaking in. They had large knives, and the victim later received a video on Facebook, showing them with his vehicle. On February 10, they smashed their way into a house in Kings Heath and, after making threats, took two cars worth a total of £74,000.
The gang then used hammers to break through the front door of a house in Highters Heath, but the family inside tried to defend themselves and eventually fled.
Mr Hafeez said one member of the family subsequently died in his sleep from a heart attack. The family believed the stress contributed to his death.
Another target was a property in Hall Green where a Golf worth £20,000 was taken after one family member was hit on the head, and others were chased down the road by the gang, who were shouting racial abuse. A terrified young woman hid in a cupboard and then in a loft.
Gurdeep Garcha, for the 17-year-old, said he was immature but had come to understand how devastating the offences had been.
Tom Walkling, for Harrison, said he suffered from mental health problems, for which he had been treated while in custody.
Judge Kristina Montgomery told the teens: “Whilst heavily disguised you smashed your way into those homes and terrified the householders, some of whom were young children, threatening them with weapons.
“Two of them were injured, one seriously. The details make horrific listening. The offences were organised, determined and ruthless.”