Pair convicted of £250k robbery at Blackburn jewellers

Two men have been convicted of their part in a £250,000 robbery at a jewellers in Blackburn.

Ancient and Modern Jewellers was raided in July 2009. Staff were threatened with a crow bar and hammer. The robbers then fled with watches and jewellery.

Wayne Williams, 36, and Tarique Jules, 31, both of south London, were convicted of conspiracy to commit robbery at Preston Crown Court.

Three other men had already admitted their involvement in the raid.

Cleon Perry, 33, of Tulse Hill, south London, pleaded guilty to robbery at an earlier hearing.

Shaun Springer, 30, of Croydon, admitted conspiracy to rob.

And Scott Raphael, 25, of Southwark, south London, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rob.

'National impact'

Williams, of Fairlawn Park, and Jules, of Blackwater Street, Southwark, and the three who pleaded guilty, will be sentenced at a later date.

Det Insp Neil Ashton, of Lancashire Police, said: "This has been a long and complicated enquiry.

"We have worked very closely with a number of other forces, in particular the Metropolitan Police, in identifying and prosecuting these offenders.

"The positive impact of these convictions will be felt nationally not just here in Lancashire."