Two brothers who terrorised an area in Birmingham by carrying out a series of vicious robberies on random victims using guns and iron bars to threaten and beat them have been given indeterminate sentences.
During one attack a man had a gun forced into his mouth, beaten and "left for dead" by the robbers.
Kieran Miller, 21, of Vauxhall Road, Nechells, who admitted three charges of robbery and three of possessing an imitation firearm, was sentenced to imprisonment for the protection of the public.
Alan Miller, 19, of Botha Road, Bordesley Green, who pleaded guilty to four robberies, three charges of possessing an imitation firearm and one of assault with intent to rob, received a sentence of detention for public protection.
A third defendant, Marc Harrison, 21, of Hindlow Close, Nechells, who admitted one charge of robbery, one of possessing an imitation firearm and burglary, was jailed for four years.
Judge Phillip Gregory said the brothers' spree of "brutal and vicious" robberies took place between November and December last year.
Michael Duck, prosecuting, told Birmingham Crown Court the brothers' hunting ground was an area not far from Aston University around Nechells Parkway and Jennens Road and that the offences were characterised by the use of weapons and gratuitous violence.
He said the victims ranged from people in their early 20s to a 65-year-old man and that often they would be attacked and then dragged to more secluded places.
He said one of them included Vikesh Poye who was walking near Aston Circus when he was approached by two men, one armed with a gun which was put to his cheek.
Mr Poye was told to "walk" and was repeatedly struck with a metal bar before being pushed into bushes where he had the weapon forced into his mouth.
Francis Edusei, for the brothers, said they carried out the offences in a "haze of cannabis and alcohol abuse".
