Four Men Sentenced to a Combined 35 Years for Kidnapping and Robbery in Birmingham

In a resolute display of justice, four individuals have been sentenced to a total of over 35 years for their involvement in the abduction and robbery of a teenager in Birmingham. This shocking incident unfolded on the evening of September 2, 2022, when the 17-year-old victim was forcibly taken into a VW Golf outside a snooker hall in the city centre.

Daejon Byfield and Panashe Mahachi

The four culprits, namely Nickyle Harris, Daejon Byfield, Panashe Mahachi, and Danreiko Henry, subjected the victim to a terrifying ordeal. Armed with a sawn-off shotgun and a samurai sword, they assaulted the teenager and coerced him into the car. Their intention was clear: to exploit his financial resources.

As they navigated through the areas of Tividale and Dudley Port, they dispatched cash demands to contacts listed in the victim's phone. Under duress, the young victim was compelled to surrender £350 in cash, transfer funds from his bank account, and yield his phone and trainers to the assailants. The ordeal concluded with his abandonment near Dudley and Sandwell train station.

Investigative efforts traced the Volkswagen Golf to Daejon Byfield. Subsequently, on September 15, the vehicle was located in Leicestershire, having been purchased by an entirely innocent individual just a day prior. Banking records revealed a connection between Panashe Mahachi and the account into which the victim's money had been transferred.

Intricate analysis of phone data linked Nickyle Harris and Danreiko Henry to the other two individuals involved, while Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology corroborated the Golf's presence in locations corresponding to the movements of all suspects' phones on the day of the abduction.

Danreiko Henry and Nickyle Harris

The sentences handed down reflect the severity of the crimes committed. Nickyle Harris and Daejon Byfield, both 20 years old and residents of Walton Road in Oldbury and Springbank Road in Birmingham respectively, were sentenced to 10 years in prison. Their charges included kidnap, robbery, possession of an offensive weapon, and firearm possession with intent.

Similarly, Panashe Mahachi, 20 years old and residing on Linden Avenue in Oldbury, received a sentence of nine years and six months, while Danreiko Henry, aged 19 and residing on Hamilton Drive in Oldbury, was sentenced to eight years and six months. It is noteworthy that Daejon Byfield also pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis with intent to supply.

Detective Sergeant Matt Dyer of the Major Crime Team remarked, "This was a meticulously planned operation involving violence and threats to extort money from a 17-year-old. The severity of this case was evident in the judge's comments during the sentencing, highlighting it as one of the most serious kidnapping incidents Birmingham has dealt with. These sentences underscore that such actions, endangering the life of a teenager, will not be tolerated, resulting in substantial prison terms for the offenders".