A ROBBERY gang who ‘sparked fear and alarm in the community’ of Blackburn has been jailed for more than 11 years.

Preston Crown Court heard how the gang targeted a taxi driver, a shopkeeper and a man walking by himself to fund their criminal lifestyle.

For his part in the robberies, Scott Dagg was jailed for 67 months, while John Connelly, 34, was sentenced to 44 months imprisonment and Lee Currie, 32, was locked up for two years.

The court heard how the first incident happened on March 1 and involved Dagg, 35, of Hollin Bridge Street, Blackburn.

Victim Nikolaj Kiurt was walking along Bolton Road, Blackburn, between 11pm and 11.20pm

When he told Dagg he had no money or drugs Mr Kiurt was repeatedly punched in the face and knocked to the floor. While he was on the floor Mr Kiurt was bitten by Dagg, who was identified by his DNA.

The victim was robbed of a black McKenzie coat, a Samsung mobile phone, an identity card, a bank card and a passport.

The court heard that Dagg was not found and arrested by police until April 22, and the day before that he robbed taxi driver Dilshad Hussain, along with his two co-defendants.

Mr Hussain was grabbed from behind while still in his taxi, and had his nose and mouth covered so he couldn’t breathe. The co-defendants ran from the taxi, having stolen £110, a sat-nav and a Samsung mobile phone, but were spotted on CCTV.

The final robbery took place on April 24 at the the Wine Cellar in Parkinson Street, Blackburn, and involved Connelly and an unidentified masked man. Between 7.45am and 8.10am Connelly, who was also wearing a mask, and the unidentified man, who was carrying a metal bar, went into the shop and threatened the lone shop assistant. They ran off with cigarettes and cash.

Dagg pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery and breaching the terms of a suspended sentence, Connelly, of of St Peter Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery and Currie, also of of St Peter Street, pleaded guilty to one count of robbery.

Passing sentence, Judge Heather Lloyd said: “You are effectively career criminals. The authors of the pre-sentence reports prepared for you have been struck by how you all seem to minimalise your roles or blame others to explain why you committed your crimes.

“I have no doubt that your have all had personal difficulties whether it being your childhood or adulthood.

“I have no doubt relationship failures have effected you - often your own violence towards partners or family have contributed to the breakdown.

“When you committed these crime you had no idea what was happening in the lives of the victims you attacked. Nor did you care. The reason for the offending was greed and a quick fix achieved by violence.”

Speaking after the sentencing hearing, Det Sgt Mark Hutchinson said: “Dagg, Connelly and Currie targeted vulnerable individuals, carrying out a series of robberies which sparked fear and alarm in the community.

“Taxi drivers, a shopkeeper and a member of the public were targeted by with the offenders showing reckless disregard for their victims.

“It is fortunate no-one was seriously injured when you consider the brazen and shameless crimes they committed.

“The sentences reflect the widespread effect of their actions and the outcome is a pleasing conclusion for both the victims and investigating officers.”