Men jailed for 17 years for violent robberies and carjacking incidents

Jamie Brunton and Kier Carter were sentenced at Stafford Crown Court on October 15 after pleading guilty to conspiring to commit robbery.

Brunton was jailed for eight years eight months and Carter for eight years four months.

The court heard that Brunton, and Carter, both aged 20 (Carter of Coleshill, and Brunton of Shustoke, near Birmingham), conspired in a series of robberies and aggravated burglaries where houses were broken into and cars stolen in the Lichfield and Tamworth areas of Staffordshire, as well as a further incident in Leicestershire.

The offences took place between 28 October and 20 November 2020.

The court heard that the series began with the theft of the vehicle which was used to commit the offences on 29 October 2020. A VW T-Roc was stolen from Dordon Road, Tamworth, and later found on 23 November in the Castle Bromwich area of Birmingham.

On the evening of 2 November 2020 a householder was alerted to the sound of breaking glass at his property in Drayton Lane, Tamworth. Three men wearing balaclavas got out of a car and one brandished a baseball bat, while demanding the keys to his BMW. Police were called and the men left empty-handed.

The following day a VW golf estate was followed by another car. Men jumped out and one used a machete to threaten them as they ran into a house. They hacked at the door to try and gain entry.

On 4 November a man was driving his Audi in Atherstone Road, Leicestershire, when he realised he was being followed by a black vehicle. He felt a thud and pulled over and was approached by men in balaclavas holding knives. They pointed the knife at his neck and took the car keys, driving away.

Similarly, on 11 November a woman driving a VW Golf GTI in Tamworth felt a thud from a vehicle. She was threatened with a machete and her car stolen.

A man was returning to his Audi outside Marks and Spencer in Tamworth on 19 November when a car drove at him. Men demanded his keys and he was assaulted and one took his car.

Carter had recently served a prison sentence for similar offences and had breached his supervision licence.
The men pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery in October 2020, burglary of a house and theft of a motor vehicle on 29 October 2020 at an earlier hearing.

Detective Constable Gareth Morris, of Staffordshire Police, said he welcomed the sentences.

“These were shocking offences were violence and serious threat was used to steal cars from people who were just going about their business peaceably. It was clear that these people were targeted for their vehicles and the fact they were mainly lone occupants made them vulnerable.

“This has been a complex investigation and I’d like to thank the witnesses whose evidence allowed us to bring this case before the courts.

“We take these crimes very seriously and work hard to protect our communities across Staffordshire.”