Jas Dhaliwal prosecuted two armed robbers who targeted Spar, Tesco and Sainsbury’s stores in Stourbridge over just a two day period in March 2022. Peter Marsden and Stephen Beckley were sentenced at Wolverhampton Crown Court for offences of robbery and possession of imitation firearms. The pair attended the stores with an imitation handgun with a silencer attached, knife, screwdriver and baseball bat. They would enter the stores, wearing disguises and masks, and would immediately threaten the staff with the weapons, forcing them to hand over cash from the tills and cigarettes. The offences took place when customers were present and entering/exiting the store.
The offenders were apprehended following the discovery of masks and the handgun at an address, a vehicle used during the robberies, and facial mapping analysis. Peter Marsden was also sentenced for a further offence of affray and possession of a bladed article in relation to an unconnected matter.
Peter Marsden received a total sentence of 11 years of 2 months imprisonment. Stephen Beckley received a total sentence of 9 years and 10 months imprisonment.