Fifteen men sentenced for burglary offences in West Midlands

Three men were jailed for life in February 2021 after killing 19-year-old Khuzaimiah Douglas and 36-year-old Waseem Ramzan while trying to protect their cannabis grow in Pensnett Road, in February 2020.

Waseem Ramzan was the brother of Saghawat Ramzan who was jailed alongside his son Omar Ramzan and Mohammed Sageer. Khuzaimiah Douglas was one of the group attempting to raid the property. Waseem and Khuzaimiah both died from crossbow injuries.

L-r - Saghawat Ramzan, Omar Ramzan, Mohammed Sageer

Prior to the murders, an investigation was already underway following a series of burglaries and attempted burglaries in the early hours of December 17, 2019.

The organised crime group committing the offences were targeting cannabis factories, often with the aid of a thermal imaging gun. Another tactic saw them following likely cannabis farmers from hydroponic retailers back to where there was a likely grow.

But on February 20 the activities of the group ended in tragedy.

At 3.30am a cannabis grow over three floors in Pensnett Road, Brierley Hill, was attacked, but the gang hadn’t reckoned on the homeowners being ready to fight back with weapons, and they found themselves cornered inside. Fighting their way out through a front window, they made off, losing one of the gang – Khuzaimiah Douglas – in the process.

A car which crashed into a wall was left behind, within it was three mobile phones, which were recovered, helping to link the members of the group and their movements. DNA from items left behind also helped prove the defendants were at the scene.

Detective Superintendent Jim Munro said: “The activities of this group were already on our radar when sadly the raid in Pensnett Road ended in bloodshed. It is inevitable that criminality on this scale comes with a risk of extreme violence.

“Although the murder investigation concluded with three men jailed, we continued our enquiries into those linked in some way to the activities of the group.

“Our officers studied hours of CCTV and linked hundreds of phone records to place the defendants at the scene of the crimes.

“Their determination paid off and we have seen these men jailed for more than 100 years.

“This is a significant message to anyone who thinks they can get away with burglary. The impact on victims is devastating and we will do all we can to bring perpetrators to justice.”

Dudley man Troy Parkins was among six men who pleaded guilty and have now been jailed for conspiracy to commit burglary and aggravated burglary. The 28-year-old from Claughton Road was given a sentence of 13 years and seven months.

Top - Godfree Mbugoniwia, Omari Beckford, Troy Parkins, Jason Kavanagh, bottom – Bradley Knight, William Thompson, Karam Sanghera (Image: West Midlands Police)

Godfree Mbugoniwia, aged 25, of Brunswick Road, Birmingham, was jailed for 11 years; Omari Beckford, aged 28, of Northumberland Way, Walsall, was sentenced to 12 years and seven months; Jason Kavanagh, aged 24, of no fixed address, was jailed for five years and 11 months; Bradley Knight, aged 26, of Tugford Road, Bournville, was given a six-year term; and William Thompson, aged 30, of Sedgehill Avenue, Birmingham, was jailed for eight years and six months.

Karam Sanghera, aged 25, of Manningford Road, Birmingham, was sentenced in his absence after failing to attend court. He was sentenced to nine years and six months behind bars, with a warrant issued for his arrest.

The following admitted some offences and were found guilty following a trial which ended on October 4 for other offences of conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary.

Lewis Graver, aged 25, of Primrose Lane, Hall Green, was jailed for 11 years, while Lewis Azzopardi, aged 28, of Eureka Gardens, Wolverhampton, and Reed Smith, aged 27, of Brunswick Road, Balsall Heath, were both sentenced to nine years.

Top – Lewis Graver, Lewis Azzopardi, Reed Smith, bottom – Hisham Lewis, Said Ammaid, Billal Akram, Micah Evans, Amir Nasiri (Image: West Midlands Police)

The following have pleaded guilty to some offences and have been found guilty after a trial which concluded on December 8 at Wolverhampton Crown Court for other offences of conspiracy to commit burglary.

Dudley man Billal Akram was among those jailed. The 28-year-old of Buffery Road was sentenced to two years behind bars.

Hisham Lewis, aged 24, of Grove Avenue, Selly Oak, was jailed for two years and four months; Said Ammaid, aged 27, of Edward Road, Birmingham, was sentenced to three years and six months; and Micah Evans, aged 23, of Foster Avenue, Bilston, and Amir Nasiri, aged 25, of Swinford Road, Birmingham, were both jailed for three years.

All defendants will have to serve at least two thirds of their sentence before being eligible for parole.