A group of local thugs who went on a rampage attacking women and teenagers across Dudley have been jailed.

Saffie Ullah 21, Haseeb Choudhury 21 and Yousaf Khalid, 19 were sentenced to a total of 20 years in prison at Wolverhampton Crown Court today for three robberies and an assault. 

The court heard how the trio had been driving around Dudley on the night of August 15, 2014 looking for victims. At around 11.40pm they pulled up alongside a couple who were walking home from a night out on Windsor Crescent, Netherton and attacked them, stealing belongings including mobile phones and cash.

Not content with the one robbery the group continued their spree, driving around the area looking for their next victim. They also damaged a house on City Road, Tividale and just after midnight assaulted a man and woman on High Street, Dudley.

Officers were alerted to the crime spree and a description of the vehicle being used was issued over the air to all passing patrols.

Moments later, the car - an orange Seat Leon – was spotted and stopped. Weapons used in the attacks, including a golf club, were found inside.

Choudhury admitted conspiracy to commit robbery and two assaults at an earlier hearing and was today (Friday 30 October) sentenced to five years in prison.

Ullah and Khalid were both found guilty of conspiracy to commit robbery and two assaults today and were sentenced to seven years and eight years in prison respectively.

Detective Constable Gareth Homer, from Dudley CID, said: “In total their offending spree has affected six victims in four different offences. They initially used a Fiat Punto for the first offence and then changed cars to an orange Seat Leon.

“These men were systematically picking victims who they felt would be easy targets; they were intent on committing crimes and I feel they would have gone on to commit more offences, but thanks to the quick actions of the officers, they were arrested.

“The offenders will now spend a long time behind bars to reflect on their actions and I hope that this offers some comfort to their victims.”