Two men jailed for burglaries and taxi hijacking in Coventry
Ian Giles, 51, and Jason Dalton, 37 hijacked a taxi travelling from Leicester to Coventry and threatened to stab the driver
Two men have received prison sentences totalling more than 10 years after being convicted of multiple burglaries in Coventry.
Ian Giles, 51, and Jason Dalton, 37, were sentenced at Warwick Crown Court on 6th February after stealing cars and burgling houses across the city, threatening and assaulting anyone who tried to stop them.
The crimes took place in October and November last year, targeting various homes, including those of vulnerable individuals.
Giles and Dalton also hijacked a taxi travelling from Leicester to Coventry, threatening to stab the driver if he refused to drop them off at an address in Canley.
The taxi incident occurred just 30 minutes after a burglary committed by the pair in the southwestern part of the city.
In that offence, the two had entered a property in the South West of the city looking for money and/or car keys.
When they were challenged by one of the occupants of the house, they stabbed him in the hand before fleeing the scene.
Both were arrested after CCTV footage showed them removing clothes from a donation bank, leading to an investigation by the Coventry Local Policing Area team, which identified them as suspects in the previous burglaries and the taxi incident.
Both men were charged with burglary, blackmail, possession of a knife and assault by beating and were jailed at Warwick Crown Court on 6 February.
Giles, of no fixed address, was jailed for six years and nine months, while Dalton, of Humber Avenue, was jailed for four years and six months.
Detective Sergeant Jay Aston, from Coventry CID, said: "These are serious offences which were harrowing for their victims.
"Fortunately the victim of the burglary only suffered superficial injuries but both Dalton and Giles' demeanour was unpredictable and erratic throughout.
"I'd like to commend the bravery of the burglary victims as well as the taxi driver they targeted, and I hope they feel justice has been done.
"Our team of investigators worked tirelessly to secure charged against these two on the day they were arrested and I'm grateful for their hard work and dedication.
"These offences will not be tolerated and I hope Jason Dalton and Ian Giles will reflect on their behaviour while behind bars."