TWO Wythenshawe robbers who followed an elderly Wilmslow man back to his home before attempting to steal his watch have been jailed.

Niall Whittaker, of Wisbech Drive, and Jack Meek, of Tipton Drive, pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery and one count of attempted robbery at Manchester Crown Court today, December 23.

Whittaker also pleaded guilty to a further charge of handling stolen goods.

Driving a stolen blue BMW fitted with false number plates, the pair observed a man in his 80s while he was sat outside a cafe in Ashley Road, Hale, at around 4.30pm on Wednesday, August 12.

When he got up to leave, Whittaker and Meek followed the man as he drove back to his home at an apartment block in Wilmslow.

When the man got out of his car Whittaker and Meek attempted to steal his watch – a gold Michael Kors watch that the pair had mistaken for a Rolex.

The man bravely fought them off before they fled, driving through a red light and causing a minor collision – investigations into which showed Whittaker at the wheel.

Later that day at around 6.45pm, the pair approached a man in Barrow Lane, Hale, and demanded his watch – a gold Rolex valued at £9,500.  They also stole around £4,300 of jewellery from the man’s wife.

On Friday, August 14, warrants were executed at Meek and Whittaker’s homes. 

Meek was arrested and his mobile seized.

He was released on bail due their being insufficient evidence to charge him.

Whittaker was not at his address and circulated as wanted.

Meek was also circulated as wanted after police gathered more evidence against him.

On Saturday, August 29, Whittaker was detained by Cheshire Police after an off-duty GMP officer recognised him in a pub in Warrington.

Police later tracked Meek to a hotel in Handforth where he was arrested.

Whittaker, 27, was sentenced to five years in prison while Meek, 25, was jailed for six years.

Insp Matthew Gregory, of GMP’s Trafford District, said: “Whittaker and Meek showed a total disregard for their victims, demonstrated by the utterly cowardly targeting of a man in his 80s.

“They deliberately sought-out people in possession of high-valued watches and were prepared to use physical violence in the commission of their crimes. Thankfully no one was seriously hurt.

“GMP takes this type of offending extremely seriously, and thanks to the hard work of the officers involved, they were able to link Meek and Whittaker to these crimes using a variety of evidence.

“These sentences demonstrate that such offending will not be tolerated, and I hope provide the local community with some reassurance now that these offenders are behind bars.”