Violent gang of car-jackers jailed

JAILED . . . Ryan Griffin

A 27-YEAR-OLD Failsworth man is among a trio of robbers sentenced to almost 32 years prison after a series of terrifying carjackings.

Ryan Griffin, of Crown Street, Failsworth, pleaded guilty to six counts of robbery, Joseph Baillie (28), of Collyhurst, admitted five counts of robbery and Christopher Howell (28), of Blackley, admitted three counts of robbery.

Griffin was jailed for 12 years, Baillie was jailed for 10 and a half years and Howell for nine. All were also jailed for three years for carrying a machete and a meat cleaver, to run concurrently.

Manchester Crown Court heard how they attacked and threatened their victims, all of whom were forced to hand over their car keys.

The trio targeted several drivers, including a 34-year-old woman in Hollinwood. They grabbed her from behind before demanding her keys and taking her handbag before driving off.

Earlier the same day, a 58-year-old man getting into his BMW in Manchester was threatened with a meat cleaver. When he refused to hand over his wallet and keys, his attackers dragged him from his car, and punched him before driving off in it.

Nineteen days earlier a victim was hit on the back of the head by one of the robbers, who demanded his car keys. He threw them in the canal and the gang ran off with his bags. Four other similar robberies occurred during January.

Police arrested the three after spotting them changing the number plates of the Audi stolen in Hollinwood. Griffin threatened one of the officers with a meat cleaver and was tasered.

Judge Martin Rudland said: “These crimes were deeply shocking.”






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