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Pair who attempted two car-jackings within 10 minutes in Smethwick are jailed

Two thugs who attempted car jackings near to cash machines have been jailed for a combined 13 years.

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Errol Lee

Errol Lee and Ian Galloway targeted two people within 10 minutes of each other in Cape Hill in Smethwick in the early hours of December 4.

Ian Galloway

In the second attempt a weapon was held against the victim’s face in his Audi A3 before he fled with the keys, leaving the pair inside the vehicle.

At Wolverhampton Crown Court, Judge Michael Challinor described Lee, who he said was the ring leader, as ‘a dangerous man’.

Lee, aged 52, of Summerfield Crescent in Edgbaston, was jailed for 10 years after pleading guilty to two charges of attempted robbery.

Galloway, 52, of Meadow Close in Bearwood, was jailed for three years.

Galloway, who clutched a copy of the Bible as he walked into the court, pleaded guilty to the same charges.

Mr Challinor said: “These offences were planned.

“You positioned yourselves nearby to cash machines and waited for drivers to stop and then attempted to hijack their cars. A weapon was held to the face of one victim who was clearly terrified.

“Lee was the ring leader and Galloway was a second party.”

On the first attempted robbery, the pair followed a man to his car, a Honda Civic, after he took cash out of a machine.

But the driver locked the doors as they tried to get in before calling the police.

With officers on their way, the pair tried another car at a cash point a little further down Cape Hill.

This time they got in the car, the Audi A3, and told the motorist to handover the keys.

The victim managed to escape with the keys before his family returned, scaring the pair of robbers off.

The two were then caught by police near to the scene.

Lee had previous convictions for robbery, wounding and attempted rape, the court was told.

He showed no reaction as he was sentenced by the judge.

Mr Challinor said: “You are dangerous, you pose a real risk of harm to the public.”