Two men have been jailed for a combined 36 years following two days of violence and theft in Stoke-on-Trent.

Staffordshire Police explained that on 28 March last year, Abbey Hulton resident, Lewis Thomas Jones, 24, and Jamil Wlazlo, 30, of HMP Dovegate, acted together to commit a series of offences "seemingly in an attempt to go after people but getting the wrong houses". 

The pair forced their way into three houses, stabbed three people and stole a car at knifepoint.

Detective Constable Kelsey Johnson, from CID, said: "These two men were brazen in their offending that day and have rightfully been brought to justice.

"These incidents prompted a number of 999 calls into the force and caused widespread alarm. Our officers have worked diligently in finding them, building the evidence and securing this outcome today.

"If you commit acts of violence in Staffordshire, our message is simple, we will go after you using all of our resources and specialist departments until you are brought to justice and we make sure people are safe."

The first incident happened at a house in Bucknall where the duo smashed the windows with machetes and stabbed a man in the arm.

A spokesperson for Staffordshire Police said: "After realising they had got the wrong house, they said they'd pay for the damage they caused and left on a motorbike.

advertisement

"Thankfully, the man wasn't seriously injured."

Jones and Wlazlo then followed the driver of a Kia and threatened the two people inside at knifepoint ordering them out of the car.

The driver, a man, suffered a stab wound to his arm but wasn't seriously hurt.

Jones and Wlazlo got in the car and drove off before travelling to an address in Longton where they used machetes to smash the windows and then threatened the two people inside.

A man was stabbed in the thigh. His injuries were not serious.

After taking a laptop, a purse and a phone, Jones and Wlazlo left and later went to a house in Hanley.

They smashed the windows and went inside before realising they had got the wrong house.

A spokesperson for Staffordshire Police added: "We tracked them down and arrested them both. A firearm was seized from the front garden of the Dean Place offence and forensics were carried out at the addresses, linking them both to the scene of the crimes."

advertisement

Yesterday (Wednesday 11 March), both men were jailed collectively for 36 years at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

Jones admitted two counts of wounding/inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent, two counts of aggravated burglary and one count of robbery. He was sentenced to 19 years.

Jones also admitted one count of possessing ammunition for a firearm without a certificate.

Wlazlo admitted the same offences and was jailed for 17 years.