Coventry men jailed for nine years after armed robberies
Pair targeted homes with weapons, including a modified gun
Two men from Coventry have been sentenced to nine and a half years in prison each following a series of armed robberies in the city.
Matthew Tennant, 37, and Kevin Swigler, 40, carried out two burglaries in August last year, during which they threatened residents with weapons.
In one of the incidents, they broke into a house and threatened the occupant with a crowbar and hammer, demanding car keys before fleeing.
Just hours later, the pair invaded another home, wielding what appeared to be a handgun, and stole several items from the property.
Firearms officers later spotted the suspects in a suspected stolen vehicle on Raglen Street.
The car failed to stop, leading police on a chase towards Brook Close.
When they hit a dead-end, Tennant and Swigler were arrested, with the modified BB gun found in the vehicle.
The court at Warwick sentenced both individuals for aggravated burglary, robbery, and theft from a motor vehicle.
Detective Sergeant Jay Aston from Coventry CID said: "The level of violence and intimidation shown in this case is truly shocking.
"Thankfully neither of the people they targeted were seriously injured, though the psychological impact of these crimes cannot be underestimated.
"Our officers acted swiftly to intercept and arrest these dangerous individuals, and the team of officers involved can be rightly proud of their efforts.
"PC Sarah Doran worked tirelessly to build the case against these two and the high standard of her investigation was instrumental in securing these charges and convictions.
"Violent crimes like this have no place on the streets of Coventry and we will continue to pursue anyone who thinks they can get away with this type of offending."