Armed robbers take what they want by force - often leaving their victims terrified in the process. And a number of criminals in the Midlands have used violence to steal thousands of pounds and they thought they could get away with it. But the
police were hot on their tails, and the men detailed below were sent to
prison after being stripped of their freedom for their crimes. The list includes a 'career criminal' who robbed the same bank three times. Another gang lay chaos in their tracks after targetting a number of businesses during working hours leaving staff and customers terrified. And one group rammed a jewellery shop in an act which was caught on camera. READ MORE: Man, 61, facing jail after XL bully dog attack on girl, 11, in Birmingham Amazon's £20 'dentist approved' teeth whitening powder customers say 'is worth every penny' Get
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WhatsApp The video quickly went viral and the men were eventually brought to justice. Scroll down to read more about each case. Aaron Day, Liam Bell, Jordell Duquesney and Richard Gray Top (l-r) Aaron Day, Liam Bell. Bottom (l-r) Jordell Duquesney, Richard Gray (Image: WMP) Violent armed robbers responsible for a spree of terrifying raids across the West Midlands were locked up for more than 54 years. The gang held people hostage and marched them around as they brandished weapons including hammers and knives. The masked men stormed five firms - including an arcade and a travel agent - during business hours before demanding cash and making off with thousands of pounds each time. They were finally brought to justice thanks to a major West Midlands Police investigation dubbed Operation Target - the force's crackdown on serious and organised crime. Click here to read more. Kudakwashe Chowa Kudakwashe Chowa (Image: West Midlands Police) A law graduate who unleashed chaos during a string of terrifying armed robberies has been slammed as a "menace to society". In remarks published after he was jailed for 15 years, prosecutors said Kudakwashe Chowa used his educated background to evade capture. The 30-year-old, of High Street, Erdington , admitted to 18 armed robberies across the West Midlands including in Solihull . His victims included supermarket workers, petrol station employees and bank staff. The court heard Chowa threatened people at knifepoint between February and October 2022. His offending came to light after he left his DNA at the scene of one robbery where he escaped with more than £3600 in cash. Click here to read more. James Smith and Justin Turner (l-r) James Smith & Justin Turner (Image: West Midlands Police) Armed robbers donning Covid masks who unleashed terror when they carried out a string of frightening shop raids have been locked up for more than 11 years. Wolverhampton thugs James Smith and Justin Turner covered their faces and brandished weapons when they charged into shops across the Black Country during a two-week crime spree. Thousands of pounds of cash, cigarettes and alcohol were looted during the robberies. One shop boss was chased out of his store in a terrifying ordeal which left him fearing for his safety. A female worker was also left so scared she told how she has since endured several sleepless nights. Click here to read more. Justin Boylan, John Gourlay, Trevor Leek, Hassan Zulfiqar and Arfan Latif Top l-r: John Gourlay, Justin Boylan, Trevor Leek: bottom l-r: Hassan Zulfiqar and Arfan Latif who have been convicted of conspiracy to rob a Birmingham Jewellery Shop Danyaal Jewellers on Ladypool Road Five men have been jailed for more than 72 years after ram-raiding a jeweller and bagging nearly £300,000 worth of goods. Danyaal Jewellers in Sparkbrook was targeted in broad daylight on March 3 last year. CCTV and mobile phone footage, which went viral on
Social Media, captured a stolen Toyota Hilux ploughing into the shop on Ladypool Road. One of the raiders could be seen running up the street waving an axe at witnesses and shouting: "What mother f*****s', what? Get the f*** in the shop mother f*****." Justin Boylan, aged 51, John Gourlay, 49, Trevor Leek, 44, Hassan Zulfiqar, 26 and Arfan Latif, 38, were convicted of conspiring to rob and having an offensive weapon. Gourlay admitted additional offences of theft, fraud and converting criminal property. Judge Roderick Henderson described the raid as a 'well-prepared and planned operation' as he jailed all five earlier today. He said: "All five of you are mature adults. You knew what you were about and knew the risks you took if you were caught." Click here to read more. Cecil Stephens Cecil Stephens (Image: West Midlands Police) A serial armed robber carried out a spree of raids on a bank and building society in Birmingham while on license. Cecil Stephens was handed an indeterminate prison sentence in October 2008 after holding up a village shop while on day release from prison, where he was serving an 18 year stretch. He was eventually released from jail in July 2018 after persuading the parole board it was safe to do so. But after falling into debt the 56-year-old "returned to his old habits," going to one bank three times. In passing sentence Recorder Andrew Reynolds said: "Your antecedent history is a remarkable one. Indeed it is no exaggeration to describe you as a career criminal." Click here to read more.