BURGLARS who targeted vulnerable people in their own homes in Coventry have been jailed.
Ian Giles, 51, of no fixed address, and Jason Dalton, 37, of Humber Avenue, have received combined jail terms of more than a decade after being convicted of a number of burglaries across the city.
The pair stole cars and burgled houses across the city, threatening and assaulting anyone who tried to stop them, in October and November last year.
They also hijacked a taxi from Leicester to Coventry, threatening to stab the driver if he didn’t drop them off at an address in Canley.
That night, the driver of the car was on his way to Coventry when his car was hit by an object thrown by one of the two defendants.
When he stopped, the pair approached, saying: “Do you want to lose your life?” before demanding they be dropped off in Canley.
They jumped into the car and repeatedly threatened the driver and original passengers with being stabbed.
The terrifying incident happened less than 30 minutes from a burglary the two men committed nearby.
In that offence, the two had entered a property in the South West of the city looking for money or car keys.
When they were challenged by one of the occupants of the house, they stabbed him in the hand before fleeing the scene.
The two men were arrested after being spotted on CCTV cameras removing clothing from a clothes bank.
After an investigation by Coventry Local Policing Area, the men were identified as suspects in the previous burglaries and the taxi incident.
Giles was aggressive throughout his time in custody, threatening to smash the laptops of the officers who interviewed him and insulting the victims of one of his offences.
Both men were charged with burglary, blackmail, possession of a knife and assault by beating, and were jailed at Warwick Crown Court on February 6.
Giles was jailed for six years and nine months, while Dalton was jailed for four years and six months.
Det Sgt Jay Aston from Coventry CID said: “These are serious offences which were harrowing for their victims.
“Fortunately the victim of the burglary only suffered superficial injuries, but both Dalton’s and Giles’ demeanour was unpredictable and erratic throughout.
“I’d like to commend the bravery of the burglary victims as well as the taxi driver they targeted, and I hope they feel justice has been done.
“Our team of investigators worked tirelessly to secure charges against these two on the day they were arrested and I’m grateful for their hard work and dedication.
“These offences will not be tolerated and I hope Jason Dalton and Ian Giles will reflect on their behaviour while behind bars.”
