The faces of 13 robbers who have been jailed for terrible raids in South Yorkshire

Judges have recently punished a number of offenders at Sheffield Crown Court after they were involved in robberies across the region.

By Jon Cooper

Published 4th Sep 2020, 13:35 BST

Below are some of the more serious and dreadful robbery cases to have passed through Sheffield Crown Court recently where victims have included shop staff and elderly people in their own homes.

In some cases, offenders have been armed with a variety of weapons including an imitation firearm, a machete, knives and even a bamboo cane.

Elderly victims who have been targeted in their own homes have also been left traumatised.

But judges have brought the full weight of the law down on these offenders and imposed a range of custodial sentences.

Pictured is Ben Wright, aged 23, of Rodman Street, Woodhouse, Sheffield, who pleaded guilty to robbery and possessing a knife in public from December 13 and he also admitted two burglaries from December 15. Sheffield Crown Court heard in January how Wright, 23, demanded cash from the female shopkeeper when he raided the Ironbridge Convenience Store, on Retford Road, Sheffield, on December 13, with a knife and while wearing a plastic skull mask.

1. Ben Wright

Pictured is Ben Wright, aged 23, of Rodman Street, Woodhouse, Sheffield, who pleaded guilty to robbery and possessing a knife in public from December 13 and he also admitted two burglaries from December 15. Sheffield Crown Court heard in January how Wright, 23, demanded cash from the female shopkeeper when he raided the Ironbridge Convenience Store, on Retford Road, Sheffield, on December 13, with a knife and while wearing a plastic skull mask. Photo: South Yorkshire Police

Pictured is Wayne Robinson who, according to a Sheffield Crown Court hearing, used a knife during a robbery at HR News, on Duke Street, Sheffield, and during a second raid at the same shop he used an imitation firearm with an accomplice. Robinson, aged 35, of St John’s Road, Sheffield, admitted committing two counts of robbery and possessing a knife and an imitation firearm. The defendant, who has previous convictions, was sentenced to 12 years of custody in January after the raids in November and December, 2018.

2. Wayne Robinson

Pictured is Wayne Robinson who, according to a Sheffield Crown Court hearing, used a knife during a robbery at HR News, on Duke Street, Sheffield, and during a second raid at the same shop he used an imitation firearm with an accomplice. Robinson, aged 35, of St John’s Road, Sheffield, admitted committing two counts of robbery and possessing a knife and an imitation firearm. The defendant, who has previous convictions, was sentenced to 12 years of custody in January after the raids in November and December, 2018. Photo: South Yorkshire Police

Pictured is Joshua Lawrenson, aged 22 at the time of sentencing, of Richmond Park Rise, Sheffield, and who admitted one count of robbery and possessing an imitation firearm following a raid with accomplice Wayne Robinson at HR News, on Duke Street, Sheffield, in December, 2018. Lawrenson, who has a previous conviction for possessing an offensive weapon, was sentenced to three years of custody in January. Robinson, aged 35, of St John’s Road, Sheffield, used a knife during a previous raid at HR News in November and during the second raid at the same shop he used an imitation firearm with Lawrenson. Robinson was jailed for 12 years.

3. Joshua Lawrenson

Pictured is Joshua Lawrenson, aged 22 at the time of sentencing, of Richmond Park Rise, Sheffield, and who admitted one count of robbery and possessing an imitation firearm following a raid with accomplice Wayne Robinson at HR News, on Duke Street, Sheffield, in December, 2018. Lawrenson, who has a previous conviction for possessing an offensive weapon, was sentenced to three years of custody in January. Robinson, aged 35, of St John’s Road, Sheffield, used a knife during a previous raid at HR News in November and during the second raid at the same shop he used an imitation firearm with Lawrenson. Robinson was jailed for 12 years. Photo: South Yorkshire Police

Pictured are Sheffield men David West, left, and Wayne Clark who have been jailed for a total of 21 years between them for a spate of armed robberies. Sheffield Crown Court heard how West, aged 38, of Barrie Road, Southey Green, and Wayne Clark, 40, of Westwood Court, High Green, targeted post offices, bookmakers and convenience stores. West and Clark pleaded guilty to their involvement in the spate of incidents which occurred between June and August last year. West received a 15-year custodial sentence for five counts of robbery and Clark was jailed for six years for two robberies and one count of possessing a bladed article.

4. David West, left, and Wayne Clark

Pictured are Sheffield men David West, left, and Wayne Clark who have been jailed for a total of 21 years between them for a spate of armed robberies. Sheffield Crown Court heard how West, aged 38, of Barrie Road, Southey Green, and Wayne Clark, 40, of Westwood Court, High Green, targeted post offices, bookmakers and convenience stores. West and Clark pleaded guilty to their involvement in the spate of incidents which occurred between June and August last year. West received a 15-year custodial sentence for five counts of robbery and Clark was jailed for six years for two robberies and one count of possessing a bladed article. Photo: South Yorskhire Police