Two predators who attacked lone women in the West Midlands in a series of terrifying kidnaps and robberies have had their 10-year jail sentences cut.
Nathan Hamilton, aged 24, and 28-year-old Jobari Blake stole jewellery including wedding and engagement rings from their victims before driving them to cashpoints for more money. The pair attacked random women in Wolverhampton and Birmingham, often targeting them as they got into their cars after shopping, between May and June last year.
The sentencing judge at Birmingham Crown Court said at the time the robbers showed callous disregard for the victims in taking the jewellery,
In one case a woman’s plea to be left alone because her husband had cancer was ignored.
One victim was snatched from a supermarket in Wolverhampton, while other was taken from a shopping centre in Perry Barr and several abductions took place in the Handsworth area of Birmingham.
Jail sentences of 10 years were imposed on each of the thugs after they pleaded guilty to five counts of kidnapping and five robberies last September, were yesterday cut to eight years by appeal judges.
Lord Justice Dyson, sitting with Mr Justice Collins and Mr Justice Maddison at London’s Criminal Appeal Court, cut the sentences by two years each, after saying the previous judge passed sentences that were too long.
Lord Dyson said: “These were carefully planned offences, targeting lone women, and subduing them using violence of necessary.
“Although the physical injuries were not of the most serious kind, the emotional and psychological harm caused was incalculable.
“But despite the gravity of these offences, we have been persuaded that the sentences imposed were too high, taking into account the roles of the two in the offending and the low intelligence and suggestibility of Hamilton.”
Hamilton is of Shakespear Street, Sparkhill, while Blake is of Collymore Avenue, Bromford.
Lord Justice Dyson made the ruling after saying the pair were not the ringleaders of the gang and had not physically harmed any of the victims themselves.
By Tom Edwards
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21 Comments
For goodness sake…
This country has gone mad. I’m disgusted. The judges need locking up themselves, how on earth can they justify 10 years alone without cutting it to 8!!! It should be at least 15 years surely? This country needs to start protesting out on the streets in protest to oppose stupid, short jail sentences for serious crime. I bet they’ll re-offend when they get out too. No wonder violent crime is on the increase with no deterrent at all. The goverment should hang their head in shame for wrecking what was once ‘Great Britain’.
Unbelievable - plain out of touch comes to mind !!!
I won’t say much else about the legal system because I’ll swear otherwise !!!!
What are the MP’s doing to allowing this to happen ?
SENTENCES TO HIGH,THEY COMPLAIN.I WOULD DOUBLE THEIR SENTENCES OF THESE TWO CRETINS.
ill put money on it that the pair did not name the ringleaders of the gang. I dont care if they was doing it because they was being told to or if they done it all by themself. the people they kiddnaped and mugged will have to live with it for the rest of there lives and so should they.
now we know the inmates at the asylum have taken over,why won’t this spineless government put the victims first,if they cut there sentances make them join the army, when will this this pc human right rubbish do gooders brigade listen to what the law-abiding citizens want lock them up,the way this is going i’ll vote to bring in sharia law and i never thought i’d say that.
Were going to the dogs with Judges like these.
Its time the justice system was given a kick up the backside.
The judges enact the laws that parliament give them.
We vote for parliament.
Don’t forget that will serve only 4 years if they are good inside.
The law is an ass, as we pay for the appeal and the culprits can only gain by appealing.
Birch, hanging, hard labour, no luxuries in prison and make prisoners build bigger prisons themselves. Drug addicts shipped to small islands in Scotland for cold turkey. When someone commits a crime and is jailed, they should loose all rights and have to earn them.
To make more room for o.a.p’s who can’t pay the poll tax
And the best is they will only serve half their sentence anyway, so when it was 10 they were only going to be away for 5. Disgusting.
Reduce their sentence, yes, so long as they are birched and ALL their money is taken from them.
How dare the judges doe this, with no other real punishment. just think of the damage to these people these evil b*****s have done.
10 years is a bloody joke but cutting it to 8 just adds insult to injury. Cutting a short sentence is tantamount to condoning or dismissing the seriousness of the original crime - I wonder if it had been one of the judges relatives if he maybe so forgiving- judge- ever heard the saying ” walk a mile in their shoes” !!!!!
Worthless scum. 10 years to short in the first place.
HERE WE GO AGAIN.
10 YEARS SHOULD BE 10 YEARS !!!!
WHY ? WHY ? WHY ?
YOU HAVE GONE MAD IN THE UK.
Can anyone challenge the ruling who is not involved in the case. It is getting to the point now where sentences are not relative to the crime(s). Surely if we believe the sentence is not harsh enough or it has been reduced the public should be able to ask for a review of the review. I would like to know what world these Judges live on ‘cos it aint the same one as me.
This is yet another outrageous act perpetrated by the morons who run the so called law of this land.
Every normal person knows that this decision is wrong so why is it that we constantly do nothing to alter it?
I really believe that our Legal System should revert back to earlier days when a punishment was exactly that, and not a hoilday free from paying debts and taxes at the rest of society’s expense.
These scum bags will be out in three years ready to start all over again.
Judges…Who do you answer to?
Another case of New Labours Justice System!!
DISGRACEFUL.
They’d have had fertility problems if they tried to take away my wedding- or engagement-rings. Don’t put them in prison - emasculate them, so they can’t make more of themselves.
“But despite the gravity of these offences, we have been persuaded that the sentences imposed were too high” - What? By who? The original sentences weren’t long enough in the first place.
I wonder if the appeal judges would’ve cut the sentences if their wives, daughters or mothers had been victims…
An utter disgrace!