Two men went on a 12-hour crime spree in Norwich including robbing a shop at knifepoint and carrying out a late-night car-jacking in which the female driver was robbed of her keys and handbag.

Eastern Daily Press: Steven Wilson was jailed for 4 years 6 months for robbery. Picture: Norfolk ConstabularySteven Wilson was jailed for 4 years 6 months for robbery. Picture: Norfolk Constabulary (Image: Norfolk Constabulary)

Jamie McNeilly, 38, and Steven Wilson, 24, carried out a series of crimes just five days after McNeilly had been released from prison, Norwich Crown Court heard.

Martin Ivory, prosecuting, said all the offences happened on the evening of November 27 into the early hours of the next day.

He said in the first offence, McNeilly grabbed a phone, cigarette tin and lighter from a passenger seat of a car he forced to stop on Waterloo Road before cycling off.

He then moments later with Wilson robbed the Spar shop on St Augustine's and pulled out a knife and threatened a female member of staff before grabbing £120 from the till and running out of the shop.

Mr Ivory said in the early hours of the next day the pair had approached a woman, who was parking her car in Neville Street.

Mr Ivory said that they had grabbed her keys and her handbag before driving off in her car.

Mr Ivory said the victim had pleaded with them not to take her phone but they ignored her.

Wilson then used her bank cards to buy petrol and other items totalling £64 and a short time later McNeilly had stolen a charity box from a shop in Waterloo Road.

McNeilly, of St James Close, Norwich, admitted robbery and theft and was jailed for five years, four months and Wilson of Mousehold Street, Norwich who also admitted robbery was jailed for four-and-a-half years.

Jailing them, Recorder Andrew Shaw said: 'It was a criminal spree.'

He said their offending had left all their victims shaken and upset.

Andrew Oliver, for McNeilly, said he had just been released from Chelmsford Prison, but rather than stay where his support and methadone prescription was available he had got a train to Norwich and had been living rough: 'He was at rock bottom.'

Markh Roochove, for Wilson, said he had turned to drugs after suffering a family bereavement: 'He was taking crystal meth which had an adverse effect on him.' He said he did not know McNeilly would produce a knife.