Jewel raid gang jailed

A GANG who attempted to rob an Oldham jewellers with an imitation firearm before being chased out of the shop have been jailed for 21 years.

Mohammad Irslan Salim (29), of St John's Gardens, Bury; Asif Iqbal (22), of Milnrow Road, Rochdale; and Adnan Akbar (30), of Yorkshire Street, Rochdale; appeared at Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court on Wednesday, after pleading guilty to attempted robbery and possession of an imitation firearm on April 27, 2015, at Romaze Jewellers, Spinks Street, Glodwick.

Detained

They forced their way in but, upon being confronted by the shopkeeper, the three men fled, stealing nothing.

One of the men, Sohrabi Khan, was detained by locals who had given chase.

He was arrested at the scene and was sentenced to 45 months' imprisonment.

Salim and Iqbal were caught the next day and police found that Adnan was a getaway driver waiting around the corner the whole time.

He was arrested around four weeks later.

Salim and Iqbal both received seven-and-a-half years imprisonment and Akbar six years.