Taxi Driver Online

Birmingham Post

August 7, 2007, Tuesday

'Highwaymen' jailed after city robbery rampage

Two armed "highwaymen" who went on a robbery spree targeting pedestrians and taxi drivers in Birmingham have been jailed.

Terrified people were held at gunpoint by John Blakeney and Willester Powell as they drove around looking for victims, the city's crown court was told.

Blakeney (20) of Ryland Street, Lady wood and Powell (21) of Rickman Drive, Edgbaston, both admitted three charges of robbery, two of attempted robbery and firearms charges. Blakeney was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years detention in a young offenders institution and Powell was jailed for eight-and-a-half years.

Judge Frank Chapman said they had "rampaged around Moseley and Edgbaston" on the night of March 9 robbing people at gunpoint.

"You behaved like highwaymen," said the judge.

"Your victims included ordinary people making their way home after an evening out and taxi drivers going about their lawful business."

The judge said all the victims would have been terrified although he accepted that the guns used were "harmless" and that no one suffered any injury.

Graeme Simpson, prosecuting, said the spree took place over the course of about an hour with Blakeney wielding a sawn-off shotgun and Powell a starting pistol.

He said they first struck in Church Road, Moseley, where three people were making their way home after a night out. Mr Simpson said the defendants were in a Rover which pulled up alongside the victims, Blakeney pointing the shotgun at them through an open window.

The three ran in different directions but one of them fell and when she got up was robbed of her bag by the two defendants who were both brandishing their weapons.
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Eight and a half years is a good start.

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IDFIMH