Three men jailed for armed robberies on victims walking home in Wellington

One victim was threatened with a knife another with a screwdriver after the trio lay in wait in a car.

Kyle Booth, 21, and Andrew Benbow, 23, were each jailed for four years and 10 months at Shrewsbury Crown Court on Friday.

The crooks, both of Hurleybrook Way, Leegomery, had previously admitted robbery and attempted robbery.

Jonathon Benbow, 33, of Newcastle Under Lyme, Staffordshire, had denied the charges but was found guilty after a trial and sentenced to four years behind bars.

All three men will have to serve half their sentences before being released on licence.

'People should be able to walk home without fear of being robbed'

Judge Anthony Lowe said the victims had suffered wholly unnecessary violence or threat of violence.

"Your victims were walking home late at night, from parties or from the station when you attacked them. People should be able to walk home without fear of being robbed," he said.

The court was told that the three men were in a car being driven by Jonathan Benbow.

They parked up in Mill Bank, Wellington, then waited for people to walk past then asked them for directions before demanding their valuables.

As victims Alex Green and Cameron Foster, on their way home from the town centre, passed them Andrew Benbow asked them for directions to Red Lake.

Booth and Andrew Benbow got out and attacked Mr Foster and took his mobile phone and cash, and drove off.

Later that night at about 1am the car stopped in another Telford street when Benjamin O’Carroll and his girlfriend Kirsty Whitehouse passed by.

Again Andrew Benbow asked for directions, and the group tried to take Mr O’Carroll’s phone but were unsuccessful.

Andrew Benbow had a screwdriver with him and Booth a knife.

In total the group stole a phone, a disposable lighter and £300 in cash before spending £80 on scratch cards and alcohol at Trench Lock 24/7 Garage, in Hadley.

Arrested

They were arrested by police a short time later.

Debra White for Jonathon Benbow said he had not realised that robberies were going to take place. He had lost is business and his home, she said.

Paul Smith for Booth said his client had managed to turn around his life after committing offences at a very young age. But when his relationship broke down he turned to drink which led to this catastrophic crime.

For Andrew Benbow, Kevin Jones said he could not believe he had acted in such a way and was now facing a substantial time in prison away from his partner and young children. While on remand in prison he had struggled to cope and had spend much of his time in his cell.