Drive-by muggers targeted elderly across West Midlands

Blaine Richardson and David White targeted their victims, many of whom were in their 70s, throughout the Black Country and South Staffordshire.

The crimes were committed in Pelsall, Brownhills, Darlaston, Walsall, Sedgley, West Bromwich, Bradley, Cannock, Ashmore Park and Bilston between December 18 and 28 last year.

The women had all been walking on their own, apart from one victim who was with her three-year-old child.

The two drug addicts swerved on to the pavement in a £260 R-Reg Vauxhall Vectra estate bought hours before the spate of offences started, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told yesterday.

Several of the women were dragged to the ground as they fought to hang on to their possessions. None were seriously hurt but one said later: "I truly believed I was going under the wheels."

Another told officers: "The driver had a determined and crazed look as if he would stop at nothing," while a third confessed: "This has left me a nervous wreck."

Richardson, aged 32, who was on licence from jail after a seven-year sentence for robbery, bought the Vectra estate used by him and White, 28, under a false name.

The Vectra used by the pair accelerated up to 70 mph in a 40mph zone when spotted by police after the last robbery. It spun out of control in Broad Lane, Essington, before ramming a pursuing police car and racing through red lights.

Its engine finally blew up in Perry Hall Road, Wednesfield where police needed CS spray to subdue driver Richardson and dragged White out of the vehicle through a passenger window smashed with police batons.

Much of the stolen property was either handed in after being found dumped in the road or recovered from the robbers.

Richardson, of no fixed address, admitted conspiracy to rob, dangerous driving, possession of heroin and driving while disqualified. He was jailed for eight-and-a-half years with an extended five-year period of licence on release.

White, also without a fixed address, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rob on the basis he was involved in 11 of the crimes, and was sent to prison for seven years.

Judge John Warner told the pair: "You deliberately and cynically targeted women in a very serious sequence of offences. It was pure luck nobody suffered serious physical injury because they were robbed in an extremely dangerous way."

Wolverhampton CID officer Dc Nick Taylor, who led the investigation, said: "These two individuals targeted vulnerable victims as they believed they would be able to get away with their heinous crimes.

"The offences have had a devastating and long lasting impact on each of the victims, many of whom were elderly females.

"We hope this result will finally be able to give them some closure."

"It shows we are committed to catching criminals and keeping the West Midlands a safe place."

Details of the handbag robbers' trail of terror

Victims' tussles with two handbag robbers who targeted vulnerable, elderly women across the region, have been revealed.

Blaine Richardson and David White targeted their victims by swerving onto the pavement in a £260 R-Reg Vauxhall Vectra Estate, leaning out of the window and snatching women's bags.

December 17 – Richardson uses a false name when paying £260 cash for the R-Reg Vectra Estate the two men will then use for the robberies

December 18 – Retired victim is walking down Hatherton Road, Cannock when a car drives two feet on to the pavement and the driver leans out to grab her hand bag and shopping bag. She loses a wallet, cash, mobile phone and other property.

December 19 – Victim has her bag grabbed by the passenger of the vehicle in a carbon copy attack in Ashmore Avenue, Ashmore Park. The same day another victim has her bag snatched in similar fashion while walking to her vehicle in a car park at Pinfold Street, Bilston.

December 20 – A victim is dragged 15 feet along Old Town Way, Pelsall as her bag is stolen. Ninety minutes later another victim manages to hang on to her bag when a bungled bid is made to steal it in the car park at Tesco supermarket in Brownhills.

December 21 – Victim, aged 78, is pulled to the ground as her bag is grabbed while she walks down Mill Street, Darlaston. She lost a distinctive silver coin taken, £600 cash and keys to her home.

December 23 – Victim loses £300 and a camera when her bag is snatched from her in Brookland Road, Walsall.

December 24 – Woman injures her head and face when hauled to the ground as her bag is yanked out of her grasp in Blackwood Avenue, Wednesfield.

December 27 – Victim has her bag with £60 cash inside grabbed while walking down Poplar Lane, Cannock.