PICTURED: Gang who robbed Rotherham jewellers with knife and metal bars

From left: Declan Taylor, Shakil Hussain and Lyle Copley

Declan Taylor (21), of Walker Road, Kimberworth, Lyle Copley (22), of Cecil Avenue, Doncaster, and Shakil Hussain (26), of Bridge Close, Airmyn, East Yorkshire were sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court last Friday (29).

They admitted carrying out an armed raid at Diamond Classic Gold Jewellers in the Imperial Buildings in Corporation Street in Rotherham on April 30.

The court heard three men wearing masks had entered the jewellers shortly after 12.45pm and threatened a shop worker with a knife and metal bars.

The group stole a significant quantity of jewellery, estimated to be worth around £20,000, before fleeing to a nearby vehicle and driving off at high speed.

Det Insp Aneela Khalil-Khan said: “As the robbery was reported to police on that Monday afternoon, traffic officers spotted the group's getaway car - a black Honda Civic — and pursued it from the scene.

“Despite several attempts to get the car to stop, it continued to drive at speed, over grass verges before the group abandoned the vehicle in the Meadow Bank Road area of the town.

“Copley was arrested nearby and charged with several offences, including Class A drugs possession, after a search of his person recovered a quantity of wraps of cocaine.”

Hussain was arrested by officers at the scene.

All three men pleaded guilty to robbery while Taylor and Copley pleaded guilty to threatening a person with an article with a blade or point.

Copley, who admitted unrelated charges of driving while disqualified and possession with intent to supply cocaine, was jailed for eight years.

Hussain and Taylor were both jailed for four-and-a-half years.

Det Insp Khalil-Khan said: “I’m pleased all three men have admitted their crimes and now face time behind bars. They put lives at risk by carrying dangerous weapons and then in their attempt to evade police capture.

“My thanks go to all those individuals who came forward to provide police with information about this incident, which must have been a terrifying experience for the victim of the robbery.

“I am grateful for their support throughout our inquiry and hope they feel reassured now the perpetrators are in prison.”