Gang of pickpockets jailed

Five members of a pickpocket gang who targeted vulnerable Black Country bus passengers have been jailed for more than 14 years.

The Polish immigrants slashed the handbags of elderly women and mothers to steal purses over a nine month period.

They tried to withdraw £1,260 from one 85-year-old's bank account within half an hour of debit cards being stolen, a court was told.

Sentencing them at Worcester Crown Court yesterday, Judge Amjad Nawaz said: "These offences were well-planned and professionally carried out.

"They were carried out by a team of people who were acting together.

"The team targeted vulnerable people — in the main elderly females."

Jacek Knysak, Lukasz Michalik, Wiera Pawlowska, Janusz Gawron and Adam Szwejda, had all denied conspiracy to steal but were found guilty after trial.

West Bromwich bus station was the focal point for the five, who struck six times between January 1 and October 2, 2009, on the 87, 74, 79, 16 and 404 buses.

The court heard victims, aged between 17 and 85, had purses snatched or bags cut open and only realised theft had taken place later.

Barristers representing the defendants yesterday pleaded for leniency, playing down their individual roles and pointing out their efforts to establish honest livings.

But Judge Nawaz insisted substantial custody terms were necessary.

"The evidence presented to the jury left them — quite properly in my judgment — in no doubt that each and every one of you were involved," said Judge Nawaz.

Szwejda, 40, of Markby Road in Winson Green, was given three years in prison.

Knysak, 34, of Hayes Street in West Bromwich, and Gawron, 46, of Thursfield Road in West Bromwich, were given two year sentences.

Michalik, 23, and Pawlowska, 40, both of Hayes Street in West Bromwich, received two year sentences.

A sixth member of the gang, ringleader Adam Gawron, brother of Janusz, is serving a three-and-a-half year sentence after earlier admitting involvement.