Express & Star

Machete armed robbery pair locked up for 18 years after shopkeeper struck with fake gun

Two men who helped to carry out a vicious armed robbery where a shopkeeper was struck with an imitation pistol and threatened with a machete have been jailed for a total of 18 years.

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Their victim Zemnako Azad Salih, of the Sam Euro Style off-licence, was attacked in an alleyway next to the store in Wolverhampton.

He had been visiting friends who lived above the business, in Newhampton Road, Whitmore Reans, on December 13 last year when he was set upon by Ashley Haughton wielding the machete and Isaac Frazer who was holding an imitation firearm.

The pair along with their lookout Zubair Khan fled with around £2,700 and a set of car keys from Mr Salih but were chased by witnesses and caught by police a short time later.

Frazer pistol-whipped the 33-year-old victim with the imitation pistol while Haughton waved the machete at him. Haughton's DNA was found on the machete's handle and a scarf worn by one of the gang was found at the scene.

Khan, aged 27, of Seymour Road, Oldbury; Haughton, also 27, of Great Hampton Street, Whitmore Reans and Frazer, 33, of Newbridge Street, Whitmore Reans, were each convicted of robbery, possession of an imitation firearm, and possession of an offensive weapon. They had denied all the charges, but were convicted following a trial last month at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

Haughton, whose DNA was found on the machete's handle, was jailed for to a total of 10 years and Khan for eight years on Friday.

Mr Simon Hanns, mitigating for Khan, told the court his role in the crime came as a 'shock to his family' and that he was of previous good character.

Judge John Warner told the pair: "This was clearly a pre-planned robbery and the victim was targeted. It took place at night and in the situation where he was vulnerable. I am satisfied that that you thought that you would get a large sum of money and that you did get around £2,700."

He added that Haughton, who had previous convictions, was already on licence after being jailed for 12 months in July last year for dangerous driving.

But he told the hearing that he did not think Haughton, a former mechanic, was dangerous.

He told him: "You were obviously deeply involved in this enterprise. You were the man with the machete."

The judge told Khan: "I do not believe that you were acting under pressure. You were involved in a serious offence, albeit with a lower profile than the others. You were not a sophisticated criminal. Nevertheless the jury believed that you had enough knowledge of it."

Frazer will be sentenced at a separate hearing tomorrow (TUES).

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