Armed One Stop robbers jailed after dramatic Wolverhampton police chase

Robbers who raided a convenience store before leading police on an 80mph pursuit along residential roads have been jailed for a total of 19 years.

Cameron Spence and Lewis Moore vaulted over the counter at One Stop in Wood End Road, Wednesfield, Wolverhampton, before seizing £2,500 worth of cigarettes and tobacco.

Meanwhile their accomplice, Ryan White, threatened a shopkeeper with a hammer and made him open the safe from which they took a further £2,500 in cash.

They made off in a Ford Mondeo they had stole the previous night along with their getaway driver, David Price, who failed to appear in court and remains on the run.

A pursuit ensued through Wolverhampton, during which the Mondeo hit speeds of 80mph in a 30mph zone.

A police helicopter was brought in to assist officers on the ground and the Mondeo was eventually dumped on the grounds of New Cross Hospital.

Two of the robbers, Spence and White, were arrested at the hospital while Moore and Price were arrested over the next nine days.

Both Spence, aged 28, of Pear Tree Lane, Wednesfield, and White, 25, of Allen Road, Whitmore Reans, pleaded guilty to robbery, aggravated vehicle taking and possessing a hammer.

At Wolverhampton Crown Court on Thursday they were both jailed for a total of four years and eight months.

Moore, 20, of Whitgreave Avenue, Low Hill, admitted robbery, aggravated vehicle taking and possessing a chisel which was used to open the cigarette cabinet. He was jailed for a total of three years and four months.

Price, 35, of Simpson Road, Low Hill, did not turn up to court which heard a warrant had already been issued for his arrest. Having previously admitted robbery and aggravated vehicle taking, he was jailed for six years and four months in his absence.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of David Price should call police on 101.

All four men were disqualified from driving for between two years, eight months and four years and two months.

The robbery had taken place on March 29, 2016, at around 9.30pm.

Judge James Burbidge QC, sentencing, said: "In my judgement you waited until only the two members of staff were there and then you ran in mob-handed.

"Moore and Spence started taking cigarettes and White, holding a hammer, embarked upon threatening an attack on a shopkeeper.

"He obviously knew where the safe was as he went straight to that area and forced the shopkeeper to open it.

"The pursuit lasted eight minutes. It was aggressive driving. A helicopter had to be used to contain the pursuit.

"Speeds were at 80mph in 30mph area at time. Crossings were made on the wrong side of the road and red lights were run through."