Four Birmingham men have been jailed for a combined total of more than 20 years for an attempted armed robbery of a Rolex watch.
Andrew James was in a public house on Moseley Road, Birmingham in the early hours of 11 February last year, as he spied his victim wearing a Rolex watch, he contacted Abdoulie Anderson, who in company with Daneton Bailey-Warren and Enrico Henricks approached the man as he was leaving, and demanded the watch.
He refused and was threatened with a firearm. As security at the pub intervened, a scuffle broke out and a shot was fired injuring a security guard. Two others were injured in the melee and police were called.
As firearms officers arrived Andrew James was detained leaving the scene and found to be in possession of a second firearm.
As witness statement were taken, CCTV trawls were undertaken to identify the other three who made off in a stolen Peugeot 2008. The vehicle was tracked in reverse and the occupants were caught on CCTV entering a club earlier the same evening.
Facial recognition then helped officers identify the offenders.
James, aged 42 of Granville Square, Bailey-Warren, aged 21 of Springbank Road, Anderson, aged 21 of Bell Barn Road, and Hendricks, aged 25 of Prince of Wales Lane, stood trial at Birmingham Crown Court on 7 August last year but all four pleaded guilty to attempted robbery on the second day.
James also pleaded guilty to of possession of a firearm and cannabis, while Anderson also admitted possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and wounding.
Andrew James and Abdoulie Anderson were each sentenced to six years six months.
Daneton Bailey-Warren and Enrico Hendricks were each sentenced to three years and 11 months for their part in the attempted robbery.
Detective Sergeant Lucy Mooney, from the force’s Major Crime Team, said: “Fortunately the bullet which hit the security guard in his ankle went straight through and he has recovered from his ordeal. The other two injured also did not suffer any long term injuries.
“The victim, although not injured, was threatened with a firearm and I do not underestimate the fear he felt.
“We are determined to place anyone in possession of a firearm before the courts and seize these weapons which have no place on our streets.”
Operation Target sees us taking a defiant stand against a range of serious and organised crime offences – from drug dealing and burglary to cybercrime and fraud.