Three men who carried out a robbery on a forecourt have had their prison terms extended after police appealed their sentences at Birmingham Crown Court this week.
The trio were jailed in May for robbing a cash delivery driver outside Apple Green Service Station on Small Heath Highway in July 2014.
The G4S security guard was forced to hand over his cash box at knife point before one of the men ran off on foot and the other two escaped in a stolen Ford Focus.
The thieves were quickly traced along with the dye stained cash and, while two pleaded guilty at court to the robbery, the third was found guilty at trial by a unanimous verdict.
Now all three have had their sentences considerably increased. Shah Hussain, aged 35, had a 10-year sentence increased by three years to 13. Mohammed Asad, aged 31, saw his sentence extended to seven years and four months from five years and three months, and Navis Chowdhury, aged 25, will now serve three years and eight months after originally being sentenced to two years and six months.
Detective constable Chris Smith, from West Midlands CID, said: “We, along with CPS, felt that the original sentencing was far too lenient and appealed the decision.
“It is always satisfying when the courts recognise the severity of a crime and in this instance it is pleasing to see jail sentences extended.”
Head of operational risk for G4S’s UK cash management division, Gareth Skinner, said: “These men were responsible for a serious attack on one of our couriers and I welcome the Court of Appeal’s decision to extend the time they will spend behind bars.
“We will always press for the strongest possible sanction against criminals who target colleagues and our customers’ assets. Our couriers do a difficult job and I am grateful to the police and Crown Prosecution Service for their tenacity in pursuing this case.”
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