’Terrifying’ knifepoint raid carried out at wrong Wednesbury home as burglar poses as delivery man
Robbers who targeted the wrong Black Country home in a ‘terrifying’ knifepoint raid have been put behind bars for a total of more than 25 years. James Millington wore an orange high-vis jacket and posed as a delivery driver before knocking on the door of his victim’s home in Wednesbury, on the morning of Tuesday, December 12 last year.
Moments after the man answered the door and briefly chatted to Millington, two other men, Marvin Rodney and Leon Kudhlakwazinda forced their way into his home, with one carrying a knife.
The victim was walked into the kitchen where he was told to stand against the wall, before one of the men asked “Where’s the money?” Two of the men then went upstairs and began searching.
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But they had targeted the wrong house and had been asking the victim, “We’re looking for our stuff, where is it?” he told them they were at the wrong address and they fled the scene. The victim then called the police.
The incident had been videoed on the man’s doorbell camera. It captured the moment Millington approached the door with a parcel and spoke to the victim.
Millington was swiftly identified as there was a clear image of his face, which was not covered. Police officers gathered CCTV footage, which showed Millington arriving with two men and walking to the premises.
They were later identified as Rodney and Kudhlakwazinda. A CCTV camera had recorded an Alfa Romeo vehicle in a nearby street, which police believed had been used to take the three men to the scene.
Millington was arrested the following day (December 13) and Rodney on December 20. Kudhlakwazinda was arrested six weeks later on Friday, February 2. He was searched and an Alfa Romeo car key was found.
Rodney, aged 33, from Darlington Street, Wolverhampton, was handed a 12-year jail term at Shrewsbury Crown Court, after being convicted of a charge of aggravated burglary following a trial. Kudhlakwazinda, aged 37, from Whitehall Road, Tipton, was jailed for 11 years after being convicted of the same charge.
While 36-year-old Millington, from Cannock Road, Wolverhampton, was jailed for two years seven months after pleading guilty to burglary.
Sergeant Andrew Mason, Neighbourhood Crime Team Investigation Supervisor, at West Midlands Police’s Walsall local policing area, said: “These three men invaded the victim’s home at knifepoint. It must have been a terrifying experience for him.
“We are delighted that these men are now facing many years behind bars. It sends out a clear warning to others intent on carrying out offences of this nature – we simply won’t tolerate it.”
People with information about crime in their neighbourhood should contact us via Live Chat on our website or by calling 101. Alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 55111.