Violent robber targeted women at tram stop, stole their cars and shared TikTok videos of him driving them

A violent teenage robber who targeted women at a Black Country tram stop and stole their cars has been jailed for four years.

Tyrone Downing, 19 and from Wolverhampton, carried out a string of attacks at Wednesbury Parkway tram station between July 2024 and March 2025.

His victims included a woman pushing her baby in a pram, who was struck over the head before Downing stole her car keys and drove away in her Ford Fiesta.

Downing was sentenced at Wolverhampton Crown Court on August 26 after pleading guilty to three counts of robbery, two counts of theft of a motor vehicle and attempted robbery.

British Transport Police said his crime spree began on July 26, 2024, when he approached a woman at Wednesbury Parkway while wearing a balaclava and demanded her car keys.

The woman attempted to run away but was punched in the face as she fled.

Less than two weeks later, on August 8, a man was robbed of his iPhone at the same station. A small knife was produced during the attack and used to slash the victim's arm.

Downing struck again on August 27 when he approached a woman who was pushing her baby in a pram and demanded she hand over her car keys.

When she refused, he hit her over the head, took the keys and drove away from the station in her Ford Fiesta.

His final offence took place on March 31 this year, when he held another woman at knifepoint and demanded her car keys.

After taking the keys, Downing pushed the woman to the ground before driving away in her Audi A3.

British Transport Police detectives linked Downing to all four offences through CCTV footage, accounts from his victims and forensic evidence.

He was arrested in Wolverhampton on April 19.

Investigators also uncovered videos on Downing's social media accounts which showed him driving the stolen cars.

Despite extensive efforts by police, neither of the stolen vehicles was recovered.

Detective Constable Aaron Murdoch, of British Transport Police, described Downing as a "callous and violent offender" who had deliberately targeted women for their cars.

He said: "The psychological impact of these offences should not be underestimated, and I hope his prison term provides the victims with some measure of justice and closure.

"Securing this conviction required a painstaking investigation. We reviewed hundreds of hours of CCTV footage and carried out extensive digital and forensic enquiries to link Downing to the crime spree and build an overwhelming case against him.

"Violent robbers have no place on the railway, and Downing will now have plenty of time behind bars to reflect on that fact."

Anyone who experiences or witnesses a robbery on the railway can contact British Transport Police by texting 61016.