Final three jailed after a spate of armed robberies in Manchester, Salford and Bury in 2021 and 2022

Yesterday (Wednesday 5 July 2023), two men and one 17 year old were jailed at Minshull Street Crown Court after pleading guilty to a number of offences.

Young offender A, a 17 year old, who cannot be named for legal reasons was sentenced today to 5 years for conspiracy to commit robbery, affray, possession of a bladed article and further robbery committed whilst on court bail.

Harley Whipday (20) of Milan Street in Salford was sentenced to 2 years 6 months for assisting an offender and perverting the course of justice.

Nia Razawa (20) of Plymouth Drive Stockport was sentenced to 4 years 6 months for one offence of robbery

At a previous sentencing in February this year, the other four members of the group were sentenced after pleading guilty to their offences.

• Young offender B 17 year old had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit Robbery, Wounding and possession of a bladed article. He was sentenced to 4 years in custody.
• Young offender C, another 17 year old was convicted of two counts of robbery following a trial. He was sentenced to a 2 year detention and training order.
• Young offender D, a third 17 year old pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery. He was sentenced to a 2 year detention and training order.
• Young offender E a fourth 17 year old pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery. He was sentenced to a 24 month youth rehabilitation order.

The initial group of offences occurred during March 2021 and were investigated by GMPs operation Valiant robbery team. The court heard how on the 8 March 2021, three members of the gang Young offenders A, B and Whipday who were armed with machetes, met up in the Salford area. They were intent on finding rival gang members.

Whilst in a taxi, they began circling the area near to a school at finishing time and as they got onto Frederick Road, young offender A and B saw a group of children in school uniform who they were after.

The group exited the taxi wearing masks with their hoods up, whilst brandishing a machete and a knife terrifying the school children who started to run in all directions to escape. Harley Whipday remained with the taxi while Young offender A and B went after their targets who managed to escape with the offenders then turning their attention to an innocent bystander, a 16 year old boy. He, unfortunately, was not able to run away before being grabbed where he was punched and assaulted with the weapons which left him hospitalised with a punctured lung.

Later that month (22 March 2021), two children were making their way home from school when they decided to cut through Prestwich clough. They were confronted by three of the offending group (Young offenders A, B and D) who stopped them and demanded their mobile phones. They were surrounded by the three of them who all were wearing balaclavas, whilst showing a knife and pointing a hand gun at them. Left with no other choice, the children handed over their phones and subsequently ran off to safety. 

On a third occasion (23 March 2021), four of the offenders (Young offenders A, B, C and E) went to the Blackley Area close to Pike Fold Lane where they targeted multiple children who were heading home from school. The group all masked up targeted five children for their phones as they came through the area. Again, the offenders pointed what appeared to be a black hand gun at them and produced a large machete. After handing over their mobile phones, three of the children were assaulted with the handle of the machete and gun causing a broken nose, cuts and bruises.

As the investigation unfolded six of the group were arrested and brought before the court. Whilst on court bail in May 2022 Young offenders A and a new member Nia Razawa were involved in a further robbery that was investigated by detectives in Bury. On this occasion two children were travelling along Stand Lane in Radcliffe riding an electric bike and scooter. At the same time Razawa and an unknown individual were travelling towards them in a stolen Ford Focus. As they approached the children the swerved the Focus onto the wrong side of the road. This has left a child with life changing injuries. The offenders stole the bike and tried to hide the damaged stolen car with Harley Whipday who became involved in attempting to dispose of the car.

DC Leon Cawley- Bowyer of GMP’s Operation Valiant, said: "These were violent and terrifying robberies for all the victims involved and will no doubt have had a lasting impact on their lives. I am glad we have been able to secure a conviction for those involved today and I hope this will provide those victims with a sense of justice.

“This was a complex investigation which included hours of CCTV trawls, detailed forensic work and phone analysis. Fingerprint enquiries on cash used to pay for taxis, phone downloads and clothing recovered from warrants were crucial to gaining convictions for the whole group who were involved in these offences.

“The aggression and violence shown by the group highlights exactly how dangerous they are and I am confident that our streets, and communities are much safer now they have been brought to justice.

"We are committed to ensuring the streets of Greater Manchester are kept safe and no one should go about their day to day life feeling fearful or like they may be at risk of criminal behaviour."

Anyone with information about this type of crime should contact us quoting Operation Valiant via gmp.police.uk or 101. In an emergency, dial 999.