Three jailed for Bristol fake gun robberies

Two brothers and their friend have been jailed for 16 years after threatening Bristol drivers with a fake gun in a series of failed robberies.

University of the West of England student Samuel Folarin, his brother Raphael and Michael Nunoo targeted lone drivers in the early hours of the morning during their "terrifying" crime spree in Fishponds.

Bristol Crown Court heard the three defendants were in a white Mercedes car and high on alcohol when they stopped and threatened three lone drivers in secluded areas of the city during a 20-hour period in December last year.

Judge Mark Horton was told that on each occasion driver Nunoo carried out a three-point turn in the road to bring their victims' cars to a stop before the Folarin brothers jumped out and threatened them with an imitation gun – a bottle or baton wrapped in a rag.

One of the victims was left so scared by the experience she had trouble sleeping and took a different route to work, while another was signed off work with stress.

Samuel Folarin, 20, of Crowden Way, Thamesmead, London, was handed a five-and-a-half year prison sentence. His brother, Raphael, 17, of the same address, was given four years, while Nunoo, 20, of no fixed abode, was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in jail.

All three had admitted robbery, attempted robbery and possession of an imitation firearm at an earlier hearing.

Crown prosecutor Raymond Tully said the first victim of the gang was a woman travelling to work at a bakery at 4.50am on December 8.

He said the woman stopped her Vauxhall Corsa in Straits Parade, Fishponds, because the gang's white Mercedes was blocking the road. Mr Tully said that when Samuel Folarin approached her and pointed the imitation gun towards her, she locked the doors of her car and sped away.

Mr Tully said the second victim, a man travelling to work, was targeted on the same morning in nearby Snowdon Road.

He said the victim was ordered to get out of his car and then told by one of the brothers holding an imitation gun, "I'm going to f***ing shoot you".

The robbers took the victim's phone, £2.60 he had in his pocket and his car keys before driving off and leaving him stranded.

Later, the Mercedes returned and his keys were returned, but one of the men shouted "don't tell the cops – we've got your details on your phone".

The next victim was a woman travelling in her car alone near Frenchay Hospital at 1.35am on December 9.

Mr Tully said three men got out of the Mercedes and approached the woman in Begbrook Park. She said she thought one of them was carrying a rifle covered in a grey cloth and one was carrying a baton.

The prosecutor said the "petrified" victim was told she would be shot if she did not get out of the car and was ordered to kneel down.

Mr Tully said that after searching the car and finding only a bag containing medical items, the men left empty handed.

He said that 20 minutes later, police on patrol spotted the Mercedes and the three men were arrested. During a search of Samuel Folarin's accommodation at the nearby UWE campus, the stolen mobile phone was found, the court heard.

Ramin Pakrooh, representing Samuel Folarin, said his client had never been in trouble before and said it was "baffling" as to why he had become involved in the robberies.

He said: "The motivations were not for physical or financial gain but for an element of thrill-seeking."

Before sentencing the gang, judge Horton said: "These victims were all terrified by what happened as they were all faced with what they believed was a firearm and threats that they would be shot.

"Those who look down the barrel of a gun don't question whether it's serious or not."