A GANG of men who ‘brought terror to the doorsteps of innocent residents’ has been jailed following a police investigation into two violent armed burglaries in Coventry.
The group smashed their way into the front of a home in Earlsdon at around 1am on July 23 last year, and threatened those inside with a machete.
The burglars escaped after the victims called 999.
Less than an hour later, a gang armed with machetes broke into a second address in Wyken, punching a man inside and demanding money from him.
They then stole kitchen knives and a games console before escaping in two cars belonging to the victim.
Within 40 minutes, a police helicopter spotted one of the stolen cars travelling in convoy with the second stolen vehicle.
Following a pursuit, where the vehicle went the wrong way down the A446, the group were detained by armed officers.
They recovered knives and machetes, and the stolen games console was recovered from an address linked to the culprits.
Enquiries and CCTV analysis by the Coventry Neighbourhood Crime Team proved the four men’s involvement.
At Warwick Crown Court, Junior Yawli, 20, of Parry Road was jailed for 11 years and two months and Mohammed Ramirez, 26, of Kenilworth Road in Birmingham was jailed for nine years – each for two counts of aggravated burglary and two counts of theft of a motor vehicle.
Nathan Evans, 26, of Dudhill Road in Rowley Regis was jailed for six years and six months for one count of aggravated burglary and two of theft of a motor vehicle.
Sebastian Kandrac, 20, of Normandy Road in Birmingham, had previously pleaded guilty to all the offences and will be sentenced at a later date.
Det Sgt Jay Aston, who supervised the investigation, said: “I am incredibly pleased with the sentences handed down by the court, which reflect the gravity and violence involved in these offences.
“These individuals brought terror to the doorsteps of innocent residents, brandishing weapons without a second thought.
“I am proud of my team who investigated this, especially DC Scutariu and DC Hodgkins, who worked around the clock to bring justice to the victims and their families.”
