Robbers targeting Chinese community in Liverpool sentenced to jail

Two members of the robbing gang targeting the Chinese community in Liverpool were sentenced to jail by a judge in Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday.

Jack Hunter, a 20-year-old young man who has 19 previous court appearances, was sentenced to 16 years in a young offender's institution for conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary.

Jamie Ellis, 24, was given nine years in prison for conspiracy to robbery and handling stolen goods.

Other accomplices, including a 67-year-old grandmother, will learn their fates later this month.

Between November 2013 and March 2014, the organized gang mainly targeted the Chinese community, frightening them with machetes, knives, meat cleavers and an axe. Victims included a heavily pregnant Chinese woman, children and the elderly.

They stole jewelry worth of 370,000 U.S. dollars, watches, electrical goods, cash and cars.

The 'show off' gang took 'trophy' photos as they posed with the stolen goods and even emailed some of them to an accomplice already in prison.

Prison officers intercepted the photos and alerted detectives already closing in on the gang.

The gang specifically targeted the Chinese community working in restaurants because they were likely to head home at night with their earnings, said Tom Keaton, detective chief inspector who led the investigation that eventually snared the raiders.

The gang was believed to have committed around 12 raids during the crime spree.

Keaton said the gang "didn't hesitate to subject their victims to truly horrific ordeals." But he also noted that nationality was not relevant in this case.