Thief caught 'within 10 minutes' after frightening knife-wielding armed robbery

A gang have been jailed for a combined 30 years after wielding knives during an armed robbery at a business premises last March. Jermaine Williams, Benjamin Need, Mark Earl and Gary Newman

raided the site in Solihull last year stealing hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of computer equipment, tying up a victim and brandishing knives in the process. However, one of the

bungling bunch were caught minutes later as the company van they stole to make their getaway had a tracker. The rest of the gang were soon tracked down and have been brought to justice. A

spokesman for West Midlands Police said: "During the raid, the group entered the business premises wearing masks and carrying knives. A staff member was tied up as they stole a company

van and filled it with equipment before trying to get away. READ MORE: COVENTRY CAR WASH BEING REPAIRED DAYS AFTER BEING DAMAGED BY BMW "Fortunately, the van they stole was fitted with

a tracker, so Williams was caught within 10 minutes of police being called. The remaining members of the group were identified by officers from Solihull LPA's investigations department,

who arrested Newman, Earl and Need a few days later. "A fifth man, Patrick Cook was not involved in the robbery itself, but was found in possession of some of the stolen goods.

Williams and Need both pleaded guilty, while Newman, Earl and Cooke were all convicted at trial." The group were sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on 30 May as follows: * Jermaine

Williams, 38, of Chelmsley Wood: Nine years in prison. * Benjamin Need, 33, of Smiths Wood: Seven-and-a-half years in prison. * Gary Newman, 36, of Knowle: Seven years in prison. * Mark

Earl, 39, of Chelmsley Wood: Six years in prison. * Patrick Cook, 39, of Solihull: Two years in prison, suspended for 12 months. Detective Constable Emily Fowler, from Solihull Local

Policing Area, added: "This was a frightening armed robbery in which a member of staff was tied up and threatened with knives. "This shows the casual disregard of these men for the

safety of the public. Taking these five dangerous individuals off the streets is a good result for everyone in the wider Solihull area."