A gang of six men have been jailed for more than 60 years in total after carrying out a series of violent armed robberies, car thefts and burglaries across the West Midlands and Staffordshire.
The crime spree began on 9 August 2021, when three masked men stormed a pub on Gospel End Road in Sedgley. Armed with weapons, they threatened staff and demanded cash. Over the following months, similar terrifying incidents were carried out in Dudley, Wombourne, Stourbridge, Gornal, Wordsley, Rowley Regis and Bilston — with 11 armed robberies in total.
The gang stole thousands of pounds in cash, along with alcohol and cigarettes. They used machetes, knives and even an axe to threaten mostly female staff, often as they were about to close up for the night.
The men also stole 20 vehicles from homes and businesses, some of which were used during the robberies.
On 14 February 2022, police arrested Stephen Hall and Jason Hall following robberies at a post office in Lower Gornal and a store in Brierley Hill. Further investigation, including hours of CCTV footage and phone analysis, led to the arrests of Craig Booth, Gavin Reilly, Paul Bagnall and Carlton Betts.
All six appeared at Wolverhampton Crown Court on 1 July for sentencing:
Gavin Reilly, 45, of Thornhill Road, Quarry Bank: 19 years for conspiracy to commit robbery, burglary and vehicle theft.
Craig Booth, 48, of Kirby Drive, Lower Gornal: 10 years and 6 months for conspiracy to commit robbery, and guilty of burglary and vehicle theft.
Stephen Hall, 46, of Withern Way, Lower Gornal: 15 years and 8 months for burglary and robbery.
Jason Hall, 49, of Knighton Road, Netherton: 9 years and 8 months for robbery.
Carlton Betts, 29: 3 years for conspiracy to steal vehicles and burglary, added to his existing 13-year sentence for causing a fatal crash in Tipton in 2021.
Paul Bagnall, 38, of Lichfield Street, Bilston: 2 years and 3 months for conspiracy to steal vehicles.
Detective Constable Mark Plant from the Major Crime Proactive team said:
“These serious and cowardly robberies mainly occurred when predominantly female staff were about to close the stores. I know this has had a long-standing impact on some of the victims. Now these men face a long time behind bars — hopefully the victims will feel that justice has been served.”