Two jailed for Bury robberies with machete
Sentenced for a total of 13 years.
Two men have been jailed after conspiring to commit a string of robberies in Bury in January.
Anthony Graham of Mossfield Close, Bury was jailed for seven years two months and Ryan Costello, of Coronation Road, Radcliffe was jailed for six years nine months for conspiracy to commit robbery and assault at Bolton Crown Court on Friday 22 July 2016.
The first incident occurred at 12.45am on Friday 1 January 2016 when the pair got in a taxi on Coronation Road, Bury, asking to go to Bealey Avenue, Bury.
Costello produced a meat cleaver and held it to the driver’s throat, demanding money. The driver managed to get out of the vehicle but Graham went after him with a knife and repeated the demands. The driver was able to alert some members of the public and the pair fled.
Shortly before 4.15 on the same day, Costello and Graham got into another taxi from the same firm asking to go to the Dickie Bird estate, Bury.
They dragged the driver from the vehicle and started to punch him in the head before Costello produced a machete and attempted to hit the victim with it.
The victim put his hands up to defend himself and the machete caused severe injuries to his hand.
Graham continued to punch him in the head while Costello struck him with the weapon in the leg, which required surgery, before both fled with his money bag containing £300 and £50 from his jacket.
The third incident occurred shortly after 2.45am the following morning when the pair requested a taxi from Coronation Road to the Dickie Bird estate.
Graham bragged to the driver about being a career criminal.
They asked the driver to stop and Graham began rifling through the drivers pockets. Graham then got out and threatened him and another taxi driver who had pulled up behind them with a large knife while Costello wielded a meat cleaver.
However, the driver managed to drive down a cul-de-sac, reverse his vehicle at high speed and flee the scene despite Costello hitting the car with the cleaver.
Only two hours later, the pair ordered another taxi from Mossfield Close, Bury. They approached the car and demanded money before producing a meat cleaver.
Fearing for his life, the driver drove away and Costello struck the door with a cleaver.
When police searched Graham’s flat, they found a dismantled Blackberry mobile phone which was the same number used to contact all four taxis.
Also found was a meat clever wrapped in a cloth and hunting knife in a sheath, hidden in the cistern of the toilet.
Early examination of the phone revealed several selfies of both Graham and Costello and several of Graham posing with the hunting knife. Both were arrested and taken to Bury Police Station.
Detective Constable Dave Looby, of GMP’s Bury borough, said: “These two men committed a series of shocking robberies in quick succession on four men who were left terrified while simply trying to make an honest living.
“Taxi drivers should be able to go out to work without fear of being attacked and while they have recovered from the physical wounds, the mental scars may never heal.
“I hope this sends a message that if you are intent on committing crime on our streets we will relentlessly pursue you.
“This is a fantastic result and I would like to pay tribute to the victims for coming forward and the public who helped us to identify and convict these men.”