THREE young violent robbers from the Dudley, Halesowen and Wolverhampton areas have been locked up for a total of 13 years for targeting a string of victims in a crime spree.

Zain Hanif, Amar Dharmia and Tamara Foster struck on public transport and at bus stations after taking drugs and drink and their haul during a total of 11 robberies included a £6,000 Rolex watch.

That was taken from a university student by Hanif and Dharmia as they travelled on the top deck of a Birmingham to Dudley bus while just hours later 20-year-old Dhamia pushed a man down the stairs of another bus.

Judge Michael Challinor told the trio they had committed a number of deliberate offences when they were "drugged or drunk" adding, "There were threats people would be stabbed."

Hanif, 19, of Norman Street, Dudley pleaded guilty to six robberies, two assaults and twice carrying a knife when he robbed men in the town of their mobile telephones.

The teenager, described as having drifted away from his family, also admitted stealing three bottles of vodka from a supermarket in Wolverhampton Street, Dudley and he was sent to a Young Offenders Institution for five years.

Foster, 19, of Long Lane, Halesowen admitted four robberies, one assault and another charge of possessing a knife and she was ordered to be detained for three years.

The Judge told her at Wolverhampton Crown Court it was clear she had been "vulnerable to the pull of gang culture."

Dhamia of Park Avenue, Wolverhampton admitted five robberies and an assault and he was also sent to a Young Offenders Institution for five years.

Mr Dean Easthope prosecuting told the court he robbed a man of his mobile in Stourbridge bus station and four days later he committed a similar offence at Dudley bus station.

He said Hanif and Foster were also involved in a nasty attack on a doorman at the Saracens Head public house in Dudley town centre that left the man with a broken jaw.

Mr Easthope said Hanif and Dharmia also ordered the driver of a Ford Focus waiting in traffic in Brierley Hill High Street to get out of his vehicle before speeding away from the scene.

The Judge told the three defendants if was extremely serious offending and they had to spend some considerable time behind bars for their actions.