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WATCH: 'Sheer terror' of brothers' armed robbery spree around the Midlands

An armed robbery gang who carried out violent raids on homes and businesses, threatening staff and customers with metal poles, have as been locked up for a total of 24 years.

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Brothers Kurtis and Lewis Richards, aged 22 and 24, along with a boy of just 16, made off with thousands of pounds in a month-long spree.

It began on January 4 last year at the Holly Bush pub, Shenstone, Lichfield, where they used the poles threaten staff and dragged the manager by his hair to the safe and made off with £2,000.

The next day, they forced householders at a property in Reddicap Heath Road, Sutton Coldfield, to hand over the keys to a silver BMW.

They stole it and used it to carry out four more armed robberies:

The gang:

  • Tried to raid the Foley Arms pub in Foley Road, Streetly and the Select and Save shop in Boundary Road, Streetly armed with metal poles, but fled empty handed on both occasions.

  • Threatened staff at the Stick and Wicket Cricket club in Aldridge on January 8 with metal poles and forced customers to the ground, making off with £15,000 and two bottles of alcohol.

"They have affected many lives with their violence and two of them have continued to carry out these armed robberies whilst already on licenced release from prison for similar offences.

"The sentences reflect the serious nature of these crimes and means that they cannot continue to offend in such a manner across the West Midlands.

  • Stole two cars from a house in Sutton Coldfield on January 9

  • Punched a driver in the face and stole his car in Tamworth on February 5

  • Raided the Blake Barn pub in Four Oaks hours later, threatening staff with poles before making off with £4,500.

Police swooped on the gang, arresting the youngster, who can't be named, on February 6.

Kurtis Richards was arrested in Kingstanding the next day, and his brother was held in Sheffield on February 12.

Police said forensics and CCTV placed them at scenes, as did clothing and phones.

The Richards brothers, of Brockwell Road, Kingstanding, were handed sentences totalling 19 years and four months in prison.

The 16-year-old was detained for five years after admitting conspiracy to rob.

Lewis was jailed for eight years and four months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to rob, while Kurtis was given 11.5 years after admitting the same offence.

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