TWO men have been jailed for seriously assaulting and robbing an elderly man in March.
Omar Ali and Ryan Walsh broke into the man’s home in Solihull in the early hours of March 23 after they had been drinking all night at a local pub.
The pair initially got a taxi, but they were ejected following an altercation with the driver.
After loitering in the road for around half an hour, the pair spotted the victim’s car parked on his drive and began causing damage to it.
They then kicked their way into his house and began ransacking rooms in an attempt to find items to steal. They also woke the victim up by flashing a torch in his face before seriously assaulting him.
They demanded the victim tell them where his phone and car keys were. Once they had them, they left in his car along with cash stolen from the man’s home.
Ali and Walsh were arrested and charged with robbery.
Omar Ali aged 29 of Druids Lane, Birmingham and Ryan Walsh aged 26 of Holdgate Road, Selly Oak, pleaded guilty and were sentenced to seven years and two months in prison.
A victim impact statement was read in court on behalf of the man. He said that he “still struggled to sleep and was constantly anxious and scared. He said “that the incident would have an effect on him for the rest of his life.”
Detective Inspector Mark Heard, from Solihull Police, said: “This was a terrifying ordeal for this elderly gentleman who was simply asleep at home, a place he should have felt safe.
“My team were committed to making sure Walsh and Ali were brought to justice for this horrific crime, especially when they showed no remorse for the pain and terror they inflicted on this man.
“I really hope this sentence brings some comfort and closure to him and that he can begin to recover from this horrific ordeal.”
