Two burglars who ransacked homes across the West Midlands jailed for total of eight years

Abid Khan and Daniel Johnson hired a car which they used to escape after raids in the Black Country and Birmingham.

Johnson even tried to get rid of thousands of pounds worth of stolen jewellery by throwing it into a garden as police chased him.

Johnson, aged 27, and Khan, 24, broke into a house in Gorsebrook Road, Whitmore Reans on April 8, 2013 but fled with just costume jewellery when people from a neighbouring property spotted the lights on and went to investigate.

The following day the duo struck again at a house in nearby Dunstall Hill. Following a pattern similar to their crime the previous day, Johnson broke in while Khan stayed outside, acting as lookout.

He ransacked the house, stealing games consoles, expensive watches and designer sunglasses. When the family returned home, a short time later, Khan sent text messages to Johnson to get out and fled the scene.

Further crimes were reported on April 28 in Birmingham, where intruders twice tried to get into homes unsuccessfully in Handsworth. In the second raid, in Lyndon Close, the homeowners were inside and called police in a panic, which led to officers arriving as the offenders fled in a white Seat Leon but the glimpse of the car was all police needed to identify the suspects.

Khan was arrested from his home, on Robert Road, Handsworth the following day and the white Seat was seized from outside the address. Inside the vehicle police found several changes of clothes, a screwdriver, and a balaclava but still he tried to deny the offences.

But the then-student hadn't reckoned on evidence placing him at each of the crime scenes, leading to him being arrested again in Bradford.

Johnson's arrest followed in July 2014, when he was identified as Khan's accomplice in the earlier crimes. He was detained in Handsworth after being connected to a burglary in Birmingham New Road, Dudley where £20,000 worth of jewellery had been stolen.

Traffic officers attempted to stop unemployed Johnson half an hour after the burglary on Soho Road, Handsworth. He sped off, driving dangerously on the wrong side of the road, travelling through red lights and narrowly avoiding pedestrians as he tried to make his getaway.

But officers caught up with him on Maxwell Road a short time later as he tried to run from police he threw a bag containing the stolen gold while he tried to hide in a garden, but he was located by police search dogs combing the area.

Even after he was detained Johnson tried to get away, fleeing from hospital where he was being treated for a dog bite received upon arrest. He was picked up outside the hospital by an associate and the pair were arrested together a week later.

Johnson eventually admitted his crimes and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary, burglary with intent to steal, driving whilst disqualified, dangerous driving, and escaping from lawful custody. Sarah Robinson, aged 26, of Windsor Street South, Nechells admitted aiding and abetting an escape from lawful custody for her part in collecting Johnson as he made his getaway.

On the opening day of the trial, Khan pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit burglary.

The two men appeared before Birmingham Crown Court where they were sentenced for a conspiracy to commit burglary, having pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing.

Det Const John Marsh, from the serious acquisitive crime team at Birmingham Police, said: "The pair were involved in a series of very serious crimes, where they preyed on honest, hardworking people.

"The nature of their sentences reflect the severity of their crimes and their attempts to repeatedly evade justice.

"Eventually, with the weight of evidence against them, they admitted their crimes and are now serving lengthy spells behind bars."

Johnson was sentenced to a total of 58 months prison while Khan received a 43 month custodial sentence.

Robinson was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, on 21 October 2014.