Mark and Jason Joyce, twins who were told they were 'very, very, very lucky' to avoid prison in 2024, have been jailed for five years and two months after carrying out an armed gang raid on a Birmingham home while children were inside. The brothers, now aged 22 and from a travelling community, were sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday, September 11, after admitting violent disorder, possessing offensive weapons and breaching their suspended sentences. Jason Joyce also admitted 30 charges of theft, dangerous driving, and further breaches, while Mark Joyce admitted burglary.
Armed raid on Edgbaston home
The Joyces were among six people who attacked a home on Rotton Park Road, Edgbaston at 11.30pm on February 25 this year. CCTV and Ring doorbell footage showed Mark Joyce charging at the front door and swinging an axe at it. Jason followed, brandishing his own axe or machete-like weapon, which he used to strike the front window five times. A third member of the group then moved forward brandishing a shotgun, which he fired into the property. As the group retreated to the Nissan Juke and Vauxhall Corsa they arrived in, the gunman pointed the firearm at an upstairs bedroom window. Two adults and two children were inside at the time, but it is unknown why the group attacked the house.
Recorder Ben Mills, sentencing, described it as a 'horrifying, premeditated display of armed violence and intimidation on an ordinary Birmingham street in the middle of the night.' He told the Joyces: 'You were each central to the violence inflicted upon the property, willingly smashing a home regardless of whether children were there. You probably didn't think about that. You had no care for the safety of those in the house or in the community. Caring only for yourselves and the brazen intimidation you were seeking to achieve.'
Previous suspended sentences and further crimes
The brothers had received suspended sentences at Birmingham Crown Court in May 2024 in relation to an incident at Hollywood Bowl in Rednal, where they attacked an innocent family enjoying a birthday party. A three-year delay in progressing their case to sentencing, as well as the fact that they were 17 at the time of the incident, went in their favour. However, they failed to engage with the requirements of their suspended sentences.
Not long afterwards, Jason Joyce went on a shoplifting rampage, targeting Tesco, Morrisons and Asda supermarkets 30 times between August 2024 and February 2025. He often entered the shops with others, particularly his own father Francis Joyce, and stole thousands of pounds worth of alcohol, chocolate, bedding, baby items and other goods easy to sell on. Joyce senior was jailed separately for his involvement. Jason was also convicted of dangerous driving in relation to an incident that dated back to June 2023. While in a Ford Fiesta in the Halesowen area, he ran through red lights, swerved in between traffic, exceeded speed limits and went on the wrong side of the road before he crashed into another vehicle. He then tried to run away but was Tasered and arrested.
Separately, Mark Joyce was convicted of burgling an 85-year-old man's home at 5am on November 30, 2023. He smashed the front window to gain access, made an untidy search and then entered the victim's bedroom and turned the light on. The occupant reacted saying 'oi' prompting Joyce to flee with an old Nokia phone.
Sentencing and background
Recorder Mills said: 'You were given a chance then (in 2024) to turn your young lives around with the assistance of the probation to steer you away from the temptation of further criminality. You failed to engage in that entirely. You were not ready to take that chance, in fact your criminal conduct got much worse.' He sentenced both to five years and two months. Both have already spent more than a year in prison on remand, which will count as time served.
Brian Kennedy, for Jason Joyce, confirmed he was from a travelling community and a family which had a history of domestic abuse. He said: 'The mea culpa from the father, unfortunately he didn't raise Mark or his twin brother in a harmonious household. Inevitably they were going to have been affected by drunkenness, substance abuse and domestic violence. The father was in custody for a good deal of his youth and wasn't there to provide a role model. Even when he was he hasn't been able to be a role model.' The barrister added Jason had little education and could not read or write prior to being sent to prison, where he has since taken a number of courses. Michael Carrol, defending Mark Joyce, echoed the points about his background and confirmed he had used his time in custody positively, including learning to read and write as well as obtaining a job as a wing cleaner.
Having the final say, Recorder Mills said: 'I am encouraged by what I have heard. There's hope for both of you. You will have to find the strength within yourself to pull yourselves together.' He added that currently he could not conclude the brothers were 'dangerous' offenders, which would have resulted in an extended licence period, but he warned if they returned to crime upon their release then another judge may have a different view.
