Britain's ‘most wanted knifeman’ who stole mum's car with children inside jailed again

A violent knifeman who carried out a terrifying robbery on a mum-of-two on a nursery run is back behind bars after being caught breaking into vehicles.

Cedric Brown, 53, was described by police as one of Britain's most wanted men after he carried out the knifepoint robbery on 26-year-old Lucy Lawton in 2012.

He threatened Ms Lawton with an eight inch commando dagger as she took her children to play-school in Erdington, Birmingham, before speeding off with her one-year-old son and two-year-old daughter in their car seats.

He was later jailed for five years at Birmingham Crown Court.

Following his release, Brown was spotted tampering with parked vehicles in Elmhurst Road, Handsworth, in the early hours of 18 July, 2019.

He ran from traffic cops and tried driving off in a BMW that was later found to be on cloned plates.

Brown slammed the car into reverse and knocked officers backwards with the open driver’s door as he tried to flee.

He was pulled from behind the wheel and arrested on suspicion of theft after a stolen toolbox and drill were found in the road.

Officers also recovered a machete and lock knife from the BMW.

Brown was later linked to three burglaries, including one the day before his arrest in which he slashed a victim across the arm with a knife.

During that incident, the victims fended Brown off from behind their bedroom door and, during the struggle, knocked a Breitling watch off his wrist.

Detectives later found photos on Brown’s phone of a Breitling watch with exactly the same serial number as the one recovered from the bedroom floor.

Officers also linked Brown, of no fixed address, to a failed burglary in Handsworth Wood after his blood was found on a window.

He was also caught on CCTV breaking into a house in Brecon Road, Handsworth on 7 July, 2019, where he stole a Mercedes.

Brown admitted robbery, burglary and dangerous driving and was jailed for seven years and six months at Birmingham Crown Court last Friday.

He was handed an extended two-year licence period after a judge deemed him a dangerous offender.

Pc Mark Nash, of West Midlands Police, said afterwards: “Brown has shown himself to be a very dangerous man and one who is willing to use weapons against innocent members of the public.

“He resisted arrest and came close to running over some of the officers who responded to the 999 call as he slammed the BMW into reverse.

“Thankfully none were injured and they managed to detain him; I have no doubt he would have gone on to commit further offences had he got away.”

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