TWO Black Country men have admitted conspiring with others to commit a string of robberies across the area including a raid in Kingswinford.

Ross Underwood, of Damson Wharf, Tipton, and Richard Howell, of Carder Crescent, Bilston, pleaded guilty to involvement in incidents in Kingswinford, Cannock and Tividale.

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard the two men were part of an armed gang who raided the Spar shop in Kingswinford where staff were threatened before thousands of pounds worth of cigarettes were taken from a display shelf.

The pair were also among three balaclava clad men who stole £3,000 of cigarettes after staff were threatened at the Co-op store in Tividale.

In the Cannock raid the men, who had their faces covered by scarves, dragged a driver from his parked Audi TT car on the Orbital Retail Park. The damaged car was later recovered from a street in Coseley on August 30 – the day Underwood, aged 28, and Howell, aged 37, were arrested.

Underwood also confessed to taking part in a robbery in Woodsetton in which three hooded raiders brandished a crowbar to force their way into the home of a Dudley widow as she watched TV in bed.

The terrified mum-of-two was pinned to her bed while two of the offenders rifled through cupboards demanding money before fleeing with jewellery including her late husband’s £15,000 gold watch.

Judge Mark Eades remanded both Underwood and Howell in custody until January 3 when it is expected they will be sentenced.