Three men have been sentenced to three years and four months in prison for assaulting a 20-year-old man in West Smethwick Park and then demanding £8,000 from his terrified relatives. Harpreet Singh, 21, Harman Ram, 21, and Mashood Ahmed, 20, all pleaded guilty to blackmail and assault at Wolverhampton Crown Court on June 24.
Attack in the early hours
The incident occurred at around 1:45 am on September 16 last year. The victim was walking through West Smethwick Park when he was approached by the three men, who grabbed him and subjected him to an assault. The offenders claimed they were armed and threatened to harm the victim if the money was not transferred to their bank account.
Police response and arrests
A 999 call was made alerting police to the incident. Just before 6 am the following day, officers from the armed response team spotted the offenders' car on Holly Lane in Smethwick and stopped it. The victim was found inside the vehicle. All three men were arrested, and a lock knife was discovered after officers heard something hit the floor.
Investigation and sentencing
DC Emma Simpson, who led the investigation, said: “Thankfully, the victim was not seriously injured, but this was a scary incident for the victim and his family. But thanks to the work of our officers and specialised teams on the day and during the investigation that followed, I’m pleased all three men will now serve time behind bars.”
A West Midlands Police spokesperson added: “Three men have been jailed after attacking a man and blackmailing his family in an attempt to steal thousands of pounds. All three men were each sentenced to three years and four months in prison for their crimes.”
Background of the offenders
Harpreet Singh, of Arden Road, Smethwick, Harman Ram, of Grove Lane, Lozells, and Mashood Ahmed, of Holiday Road, Soho, all admitted their roles in the attack and blackmail. The court heard that the trio had targeted the victim, who was walking alone in the park in the early hours.
