Prison for Robbery and Kidnap Pair
21 July 2011, 11:54 | Updated: 21 July 2011, 12:05
Two men have been sent to prison for a series of robberies and kidnaps in Witney, Oxfordshire.
It follows two incidents at the Corn Bar in Fieldmore Close in Witney back in March.
In the first incident in Corn Bar, two men, aged 19, were threatened with an imitation firearm, before items including cannabis and cash were stolen.
In the second incident on 14 March, an 18-year-old man was threatened with the imitation firearm before being forced into a car, where he was forced to call another man to arrange a drugs deal.
Williams and Marks then drove to an address in Corn Bar where a 19-year-old man was threatened. Both the victims were then taken to a park where they were forced to call a third man, aged 21, who was subsequently threatened with the imitation firearm
18 year old Akeem Williams, (pictured right) from Victor Street, Oxford, was sentenced to eight-and-a-half-years imprisonment at Oxford Crown Court on Monday (18/7), after admitting four counts of robbery, two counts of possession of an imitation firearm with intent, two counts of kidnapping, one count of attempted kidnapping and one count of possession of an offensive weapon.
Jordan Marks, aged 20, (pictured below) of Stone Meadow, Oxford, was sentenced to six years imprisonment after admitting two counts of robbery, one count of possession of an imitation firearm with intent, two counts of kidnapping and one count of attempted kidnapping.
Investigating officer Det Con Grahame Lea, based at Witney CID, said:
“Both Williams and Marks are two violent individuals who used an imitation firearm and crowbar to threaten their victims, putting them in fear of violence. They travelled to Witney from Oxford to target their victims.
“I hope these sentences will act as a warning to anyone in the Oxfordshire area intent on committing crime. Our aim is to ensure that Witney is a safe place for people to live and work in.
“Violent crime such as that committed by these two men will not be tolerated and Thames Valley Police will always work hard to bring offenders to justice.”