Men given lengthy sentences for Kingshurst break-in

Two men have been jailed for 16 years after they attacked a sleeping couple in their Solihull home last summer.

The pair awoke at their Guernsey Drive address in the early hours of 22nd August 2013 to knocking at the front of the address – just moments later the back of the house was broken into.

A violent and prolonged attack then took place where the two, aged 48 and 56, were blindfolded and assaulted. Meanwhile, an anonymous caller had contacted police who raced to the address within minutes to find the pair leisurely strolling around the flat.

After a violent struggle both men were arrested and found in possession of the victims’ property, including mobile phones, as well as screwdrivers used to threaten them.

Christopher Barrett, 46, of no fixed address but originally from Chelmsley Wood was jailed for eight years after a jury at Birmingham Crown Court found him guilty on Monday (24th February).

Craig Hession, 35, of Shawberry Road in Kingshurst, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to eight and a half years.

Detective Constable Mark Delaney, from Solihull CID, said: “These two men obviously didn’t expect our officers to arrive so quickly and when police got there both were still in the address. It might have been the early hours but little did they know that we have response officers on patrol 24/7 to respond to reports of crime immediately.”

Detective Constable David Bailey, who also investigated the offence, said: “Our response officers were on the scene within seven minutes of the call coming in and their quick response is what led to these arrests. They were found with stolen items on them and as officers went to make the arrests they became violent and CS Spray was deployed in order to detain them. Monday’s lengthy sentences brings this investigation to a close and hopefully some reassurance to the householders affected.”

For more information: http://www.west-midlands.police.uk/latest-news/news.aspx?id=385.