Knifepoint raiders are locked up

Two men who helped another to rob a terrified Black Country family at knifepoint and stabbed a father twice have been locked up.

Leon Robotham and Llewellyn Livingston joined a third man, who dressed as a postman carrying a parcel to dupe their victims into opening the door, to steal money and jewellery from the terrified Hussain family in Sedgley, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard. The other robber, described only as a white male called “Ems”, has so far evaded capture.

Robotham was sent to prison for eight years, including six-and-a-half years for the robbery and 18 months extra for wounding.

Livingstone was told he would go to a young offenders’ institution for five years.

Mr Charnjit Jutla, prosecuting, said Robotham, aged 23, and Livingston, 19, donned balaclavas and carried a knife and metal bar respectively when they went to the address in High Arcal Drive at 9am.

Mr Jutla said: “When the house owner’s son Imran opened the door, this unidentified white male hit him in the face with the parcel. The men pushed him into the house and forced him to his knees.”

Mr Jutla said: “The white male took the father, Mr Al Hussain, in a headlock outside to a vehicle. He managed to escape, and the white male ran off. Mr Al Hussain attempted to detain the defendants while the police were called but Robotham stabbed him twice in the back. The police found the two later hiding in an unsecured brick shed in Marlborough Road.”

Livingston, of Redditch Road, Kings Norton, pleaded guilty to robbery. Robotham, of Seals Green, Kings Norton, admitted robbery and wounding.

Mr Christopher Gibbons, for Robotham, said: “He had been smoking cannabis and was not thinking straight.”

Police today refused to release photographs of the pair.