Bigga Pineapple drink snared Birmingham gang thug

Sep 6 2009 by Mark Cowan, Sunday Mercury

“This is a young man who sought to find friendship by running with people who were more criminally experienced to gain credibility and status,” he said.

“His record of offending represents three months of madness culminating in this offence. He has acknowledge with frankness what he has done.”

Jailing him for the McDonalds offence Judge Erik Salomonsen said: “You, along with two others, all wearing disguises, entered the manager’s office and he was sufficiently frightened by your presence to allow you to escape with £5,000.

“Had it not been for you leaving behind a bottle with traces of your DNA, it’s possible that you would not be before me today.”

Valtie Dixon, 21, from Alfred Road, Handsworth was dur to be sentenced later.

Det Insp Simmonds, from Rose Road CID, said once the men were arrested they immediately noticed the style of raids they had conducted ceased.

He said: “As a result of identifying that type of offences, a team of experienced detectives from six areas effected was put together.

“It was quite a lengthy and painstaking investigation to start with trying to get that break as to who was involved. The key area was around the bottle of pop that was found.

“The officers were then able to expand the investigation into who they were linked with in this criminal network. There were different members of the team on different incidents but we were able to link them.

“We felt they were a team of people who were happy to gel together in various different groups to go out and carry out the different offences.

“We think they led a champagne lifestyle. We know from various sources that just after the offences they went out to buy expensive watches. It was a flash lifestyle.

“At the arrest phase, there was a significant notable drop in that type of offence. Their particular MO almost stopped and we knew we had the right team as a result.

“These were frightening incidents and must have been terrifying for staff. Officers did a thoroughly professional and dedicated job.

“They spent a lot of time chasing down every lead that led to the conviction of a dangerous and organised team who used hammers, knives, a stun gun and a firearm.”