Couple jailed after victim twice run over and robbed

A couple who twice ran over their victim before stealing from him, have been jailed.

Melvin Winters drove into a 42-year-old man on a Wolverhampton street last July, before turning around and hitting him again with the car while the man was still on the ground.

His girlfriend, Jodie James, then got out of the vehicle and stole a gold chain from the victim before they drove away, leaving him seriously injured in the attack, police said.

Winters was convicted of attempted murder at Birmingham Crown Court on Tuesday and was sentenced to 28 years in prison. James received a nine-year sentence for robbery.

The victim was found with serious injuries to his legs, ribs and shoulder on Pope Road in The Scotlands on 2 July last year.

He had been struck by a black Vauxhall Insignia, which was found abandoned in nearby Masefield Mews later the same day.

CCTV evidence showed the couple had met their victim that afternoon and had attacked him following an argument.

Winters, 46, of Pope Road, Wolverhampton, denied attempted murder and robbery, but was found guilty at trial.

James, aged 32 of Newman Road in the city, had also denied robbery.

The victim is continuing to recover from his injuries, said West Midlands Police.

Det Con Reece Markham, from the force said: "Using a car as a weapon against another person is horrifyingly dangerous, and completely reckless - it could so easily have resulted in a loss of life.

"Then for the victim to be robbed whilst helpless on the ground is shocking, and only compounded by the fact that the two offenders drove away leaving their victim to the mercy of his significant injuries."

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