Shropshire Star

Two men who carried out a campaign of robbery which left a Shropshire man dead were today jailed for at least 30 years.

Gabriel Bhengu and Jabu Mbowane were sentenced to life imprisonment, to serve a minimum of 30 years, after being convicted of two murders and a string of robberies.

The pair, from Wolverhampton, left Telford man Neil Williams for dead after grabbing him around the neck and choking him as they robbed him. They were convicted yesterday of his murder and that of Sedgley man Andrew Owen.

Mr William’s family welcomed the life sentences given to the pair, but said they should be hanged.

His brother Paul said today: “I’m pleased with the sentence and the minimum term, but they should stop in there and rot in there forever. I hope they never come out.

“Unfortunately, we have got to keep them, but my views are they should be hung.”

Bhengu’s girlfriend, Kashia Allen, 22, also from Wolverhampton, was cleared of Mr Owen’s murder, but found guilty of his manslaughter.

The court had heard that she had driven the two men to the robbery and murder scenes.

Bhengu, 27, and Allen were also convicted of five robberies, while 26-year-old Mbowane was found guilty of robbing four people.

Sentencing at Wolverhampton Crown Court today, Mr Justice Goldring told the two men that he had no doubt they travelled to Telford and across the West Midlands with the intention to rob people.

“The pattern of violence chosen was in each case the same,” the judge said.

“You, Bhengu, the taller and stronger man, grabbed the victim from behind about the neck in a headlock and squeezed. You, Mbowane, stole the victim’s belongings, in some cases by rifling trough a pocket or pockets of the victim.

“This was a campaign of robbery. The two of you, with Allen, drove around in her car looking for people to rob.

“Once the victim had been found, you two left the car to do the robbery. She waited, ready to drive you off with the proceeds.

“Anything you didn’t want was thrown from the car window.”

The two men were told the fact that they committed the murders and robberies in public places on “innocent and vulnerable members of the public” were aggravating features.

Mr Darren Whitehead, prosecuting, said it was a level three “aggravated campaign of robbery”.

He told the court today it was at such a level due to the “degree of force and injury to the victim, the degree of fear they experienced and the degree of vulnerability of some, if not all, of the victims”.

The judge recommended that the men be deported at the end of their sentence.

The two friends had illegally stayed in the country after their visas expired two years ago.

Ten of the 12 jurors who convicted the gang after a five-week trial returned to court today for the sentencing. Allen’s case was adjourned for a pre-sentence report.

The judge dismissed her request to leave the courtroom before the two men were sentenced.

Detective Inspector John Elcock, who led the Telford murder investigation, welcomed today’s sentence.

“I hope this can bring some closure to the surviving victims and the families of the two men who lost their lives,” he said.

“I am pleased the police were able to identify these two violent robbers and bring them to justice, although nothing we can do can bring Neil and Andrew back.

“At least, I hope, the result brings some satisfaction to all involved.

“The streets of Telford and the West Midlands will be safer without this gang.”

Tracie Paxton, of Telford, who was the only robbery victim to return to court, burst into tears in the packed public gallery as the verdicts were announced yesterday.

Outside court Mrs Paxton said: “I’m very ecstatic and emotional. I am relieved.

“It is all over now and this is it - just what I wanted.”