Duo Stormed Wrong House and Stabbed Man Before Offering to Pay for Damage
Two men who stormed into the wrong house brandishing machetes and stabbed a man before realizing their mistake offered to pay for the damage they caused, a court has heard. Lewis Thomas Jones, 24, and Jamil Wlazlo, 30, committed a series of violent offences together in March last year across Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire.
Series of Violent Incidents Across Stoke-on-Trent
The pair forced their way into three separate houses, stabbed three people, and stole a car at knifepoint during their crime spree. In the first incident, they smashed windows with machetes and slashed a man in the arm at a property in Bucknall. After realizing they had targeted the wrong address, the bungling duo offered to pay for the damage before leaving the scene on a motorbike.
In a second incident, Jones and Wlazlo followed the driver of a Kia, threatened the two occupants at knifepoint, and ordered them out of the vehicle. The driver, a man, suffered a stab wound to his arm but was not seriously injured. The offenders then stole the car and drove away.
Further Attacks and Arrests
They traveled to an address in Longton next, where they used machetes to smash windows and threatened two people inside, stabbing a man in the thigh. After stealing a laptop, a purse, and a phone, they left the scene. The duo then went to a house in Hanley, smashed the windows, and entered before realizing they had again targeted the wrong house.
Both men were subsequently arrested, and a firearm was seized from the front garden of one of the crime scenes. Forensic examinations conclusively linked Jones and Wlazlo to all the offences.
Court Sentencing and Police Statement
Jones admitted to 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 in prison at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on Wednesday, March 11. Wlazlo admitted the same offences and received a 17-year jail term. Jones also pleaded guilty to one count of possessing ammunition for a firearm without a certificate.
Detective Constable Kelsey Johnson, from Staffordshire Police CID, stated: "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."
She added: "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."
