Two young men and a teenage boy took part in a string of crimes including robbing children.

Harley Whipday, 20, Nia Razawa, also 20, and a 17-year-old who cannot be named for legal reasons were part of a group of seven youths behind the offences.

Whipday and the 17-year-old had been involved in robbing schoolchildren while armed with machetes in March 2021 while Razawa was involved in a further robbery on Stand Lane in Radcliffe alongside the 17-year-old in May 2022 -leaving a victim with life changing injuries.

DC Leon Cawley-Bowyer of GMP’s Operation Valiant, said: "These were violent and terrifying robberies for all the victims involved and will no doubt have had a lasting impact on their lives.

“I am glad we have been able to secure a conviction for those involved today and I hope this will provide those victims with a sense of justice.

The Bolton News: A robbery by other members of the group involved pointing a gun at schoolchildrenA robbery by other members of the group involved pointing a gun at schoolchildren (Image: GMP)

“This was a complex investigation which included hours of CCTV trawls, detailed forensic work and phone analysis.

“Fingerprint enquiries on cash used to pay for taxis, phone downloads and clothing recovered from warrants were crucial to gaining convictions for the whole group who were involved in these offences.”

On another occasion, three of the underaged group, all wearing balaclavas robbed two more children in Prestwich Clough in March last year by pointing a handgun at them.

After the police investigation, six of the group were arrested and brought to court.

But while he was on bail the 17-year-old then took part in the Radcliffe robbery with Razawa, who hadn’t been involved until that stage.

Two children had been riding an electric bike and scooter while Razawa and an unknown person were travelling towards them in a stolen Ford Focus.

As they approached the children the swerved the Focus onto the wrong side of the road, leaving one of them with life changing injuries.

Razawa stole the bike and tried to hide the damaged stolen car with Harley Whipday who became involved in attempting to dispose of stolen the car.

But ultimately, all seven people involved in the spate of offending pleaded guilty and were sentenced at Minshull Street Crown Court.

All of the first four, who were sentenced last February, are under 18 and cannot be named for legal reasons.

Whipday, of Milan Street, Salford, Razawa, of Plymouth Drive, Stockport and the final 17-year-old followed them just this week.

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Whipday was sentenced to two years and six months for assisting an offender and perverting the course of justice, while Razawa was jailed four years six months for robbery.

The 17-year-old boy was sentenced to five years for conspiracy to commit robbery, affray, possession of a bladed article and further robbery committed whilst on court bail.

DC Cawley-Bowyer said: “The aggression and violence shown by the group highlights exactly how dangerous they are and I am confident that our streets, and communities are much safer now they have been brought to justice.

"We are committed to ensuring the streets of Greater Manchester are kept safe and no one should go about their day to day life feeling fearful or like they may be at risk of criminal behaviour."