An unnamed 17-year-old has been jailed this week following his part in a horrific armed robbery in Bloxwich last year.
The attack happened at Harden Road where three males armed with a knife, a sledgehammer and a machete entered the home of a couple in their 60s.
After enduring a 90-minute ordeal, in which the convicted teen struck the homeowner multiple times with a machete and his accomplice held a knife near to a woman’s throat, they left the premises with cash and jewellery.
The homeowner suffered a shattered arm, a head injury and cuts, but managed to pull off the robber’s woolly hat during the scuffle, which proved to be vital evidence.
DNA from the hat was eventually linked to the robber
Appearing at Wolverhampton Crown Court this week, the teen – who was 16 at the time of the robbery – was sentenced to four years and six months at a young offender’s institute.
The robbers two accomplishes have yet to be caught.
DC Steve Trotman, from force CID, said: “This was a terrifying ordeal for the victims in their own home and will sadly have an impact on them forever.
“This boy was particularly violent but we knew we had a real forensic opportunity once the right person was identified. The information we received from the public then helped us track him down.
“He was then picked out in an identification parade as the weight of evidence built up and led to the guilty pleas. He has now lost his freedom and has a criminal record at such a young age.
“This isn’t the end of the matter as we still need to trace his accomplices and I would urge anyone with information to contact us.”