A thug from Runcorn and his accomplice who robbed an elderly family at their Widnes home have been jailed.
Carlos Jackson, 34, of Waterford Way in Murdishaw, and Gary Brookin, 42, of no fixed abode, were sentenced at Warrington Crown Court on Monday after pleading guilty to the robbery and another charge of robbing a taxi driver.
Judge Tina Landale gave each defendant a 15-year sentence, with 10 years in prison – of which they will serve at least two thirds – and five years on extended licence.
Kim Halsall, prosecuting, told the court that the first robbery took place when the pair asked a taxi driver to drop them off at the Avondale shop in Widnes at 11.45pm on Saturday, September 5.
She said that Brookin asked the driver if they could be dropped off further along, near a derelict piece of land.
Jackson took out a large, machete or knife – one to two feet long – and told the driver to ‘give me the f*****g money now’.
Miss Halsall said that they got out of the vehicle and the victim was threatened again by Jackson who demanded more money while Brookin grabbed and held him.
The pair stole £300 and car keys.
The second incident took place the following day at 5.30pm on Newbury Close in Widnes at the home of an elderly couple and their son.
Miss Halsall said that Brookin told the woman his car had broken down and asked her for some water, before he and Jackson entered the kitchen, where she saw that Jackson was holding two knives.
The robbers demanded cash and car keys and stole a total of £3,500 and jewellery items.
The prosecution said that Jackson said he had to tie them up and he ripped a duvet with his knife, while a jacket and a coat were used to tie up the elderlay man and his son.
Miss Halsall said that Brookin had a large number of convictions, including ABH, burglary, theft and common assault, while Jackson’s previous convictions include affray, burglary and robbery.
Gary Brookin, 42, of no fixed abode, has been given an overall sentence of 15 years by a judge, including 10 years imprisonment and five years on extended licence for two counts of robbery.
Robert Phillpotts, defending Brookin, said his client was a ‘hardened criminal shocked by what he has done’ and had previously ‘plunged deeply into drug taking’.
He added that his client was homeless and ‘at his lowest possible ebb’ when he committed the offences and that the victims did not deserve what had happened to them.
Carlos Jackson, 34, of Waterford Way in Runcorn, has been given an overall sentence of 15 years by a judge, including 10 years imprisonment and five years on extended licence for two counts of robbery.
Kate Morley, defending Jackson, said that he recognised the distress he must have caused and that he was ‘disgusted with himself’ over the incidents.
Discussing her client’s criminal record, Miss Morley added that Jackson’s last ‘relatively serious’ offence was when he was 21.
She said: “He became involved in drugs and his life has just taken a downwards spiral.”
Sentencing, Judge Landale said that Jackson brandished the machete in a stabbing motion towards the taxi driver’s chest in the first robbery.
In the house robbery the judge added that Jackson was armed with a meat cleaver and the knife and that Brookin punched and kicked the elderly man after he was pushed to the ground.
She said: “In my view, you are both jointly and equally responsible for the offences.”
The judge added that she was satisfied that together with their previous convictions, the pair posed a serious risk to the public of serious harm.
After the sentencing, Det Con Tina Jackson said: “Their actions that day were despicable – having a significant impact on all those involved.
“The victims have been left traumatised by their ordeal and will have to live with what happened to them for the rest of their lives.
“I hope the fact these two dangerous men are now behind bars gives them some comfort and allows them to move forward.”
Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/