A gang of seven robbers were handed a total of 82 years in prison on Friday (12 December) for a vicious robbery at an address in Hereford last year.
His Honour Judge Lockhart sitting at Worcester Crown Court sentenced the seven, who carried out the violent attack in a converted music studio in a loft of an address in the Whitecross area in April 2024, as follows: –
- Cadaine July, 18, of Manor Street, Stoke-on-Trent, pled guilty and was convicted of robbery and grievous bodily harm – eight years six months.
- Jahmya Farrell, 18, of Fieldfare Way, Coventry, pled guilty and was convicted of robbery and grievous bodily harm – eight years six months.
- Esa Hussain, 19 of Vicarage Road, Kings Heath, pled not guilty and was convicted of robbery and grievous bodily harm – 11 years.
- Ethan Powell, 19, of Eskdale Close, Worcester, pled not guilty and was convicted of grievous bodily harm and robbery – 11 years (13 years total as the judge also sentenced him for a separate possession with intent to supply class A drugs – cocaine offence).
- Musa Hussain, 20, of Oxford Street, Rugby, pled not guilty and was convicted of robbery and grievous bodily harm – 16 years. (20 years in total for separate charges including offences of possession of a bladed article and violent disorder).
- Caleb Barnes, 20, of Aylesbury Crescent, Birmingham, pled not guilty and was convicted of robbery and grievous bodily harm – 14 years.
- Acaree Crossgill, 20, of Mere Road, Birmingham, pled not guilty to robbery and grievous bodily harm – 13 years.
An eighth defendant, who is 16 and cannot be named for legal reasons, is due to be sentenced on 12 January 2026.
On 4 April 2024, eight defendants carried out a pre-planned robbery at the music studio after travelling there by train from Birmingham.
The victim was held at knifepoint by Musa Hussain while July punched him to the face and the others assaulted him. July and Powell were later found in possession of the some of the stolen property.
The victim fought back to protect members of his family, wrestling on the stairs with Cosgill who had a zombie knife. In the process he was smashed over the head with a glass by Farrell, sustaining lacerations to his head.
They fled the scene while the victim’s mother took him to A&E with an arterial bleed. He was left with two permanent scars to his head and mental health issues because of the attack, so is facing a lengthy recovery.
Police officers, who were in the area at the time as they were looking for a missing person, witnessed them fleeing and were quickly in pursuit.
Police Dog Fury helped colleagues find July hiding in a bush, Farrell lay under a car and Powell hidden in a wooded area.
PD Fury played a starring role in the gang’s arrests.
Five of them – July, Esa Hussain, Musa Hussain, Powell and Farrell – were arrested on suspicion of robbery.
Police enquiries, including a review of CCTV footage, identified the others and they were arrested and charged later.
The gang stole items including a Canada Goose coat, Apple MacBook, £800 in cash, two designer bags and two designer beanie hats.
Examination of their phones showed the robbery to be planned, and the victim stated four or five of them were in possession of zombie knives. A knife sheath was located that had Crossgill’s DNA on it.
Detective Constable Lia Williams of Hereford CID said: “We are pleased to get lengthy sentences for this knife-carrying gang who travelled into our city to carry what was a planned violent robbery on their victim to steal high value items.
“Knives have no place on our streets. Carrying them can have devastating consequences and those who carry them can expect to feel the full force of the law.”
Pictured (clockwise from top left) are Cadaine July, Jahmya Farrell, Esa Hussain, Ethan Powell, Musa Hussain, Caleb Barnes and Acaree Crossgill.