A SERIAL armed robber who targeted B&M, Aldi and a Texaco petrol station in Coventry has been jailed
Ryan Ledger was planning his third raid in a week when he stormed into B&M in Ansty Road, Walsgrave, and threatened a staff member with a crowbar.
However, unbeknown to the 31-year-old, he had been followed by two undercover cops who were on patrol and suspicious of his appearance.
Ledger was donning gloves and had his hood up – despite the warm weather on May 23 this year – as he wielded the weapon and demanded cash from a worker.
Police bravely wrestled Ledger to the floor and with the help of a member of the public he was detained and the crowbar seized.
Enquiries were able to match Ledger’s description to two other armed robberies where staff were threatened with a hammer.
Cash was taken from Texaco Service Station in Hinckley Road on May 16 and a till from Aldi, on the same road, on May 22.
But the till was found to be empty and dumped.
Ledger, of Wigston Road, Coventry, admitted two counts of robbery, an attempted robbery and possession of an offensive weapon.
He was sentenced to seven years in jail at Warwick Justice Centre yesterday (Monday, June 24).
DC Chris Parry, from force CID at Coventry, said: “Ledger was targeting stores across Walsgrave and showed no signs of ending his crime spree.
“He thought nothing against threatening staff with a weapon and leaving them in fear of their safety in his pursuit of cash.
“Patrols were stepped up in the area in response to the armed robberies and this included having plain-clothed areas on the beat.
“The alertness and bravery of these two officers, along with a member of the public, thwarted Ledger in his tracks and ensures businesses and workers can rest easier knowing he is behind bars.”