A robber who targeted lone males coming out of a night club in Birmingham was identified after a phone he took from one of his victims took his picture.

Khalid Selman ambushed his victims - in one case taking a person in a taxi where he and three accomplices threatened to kill him.

Birmingham Crown Court was told the phone which led to Selman being tracked down was fitted with a special device which captured the image of of anyone who unsuccessfully tried three times to put in a pin number.

Selman, 23, of Longfellow Road, Kings Norton, who had previously admitted two charges of robbery, was jailed for three years.

The first victim had left Snobs on August 20 2017 but after ordering an Uber taxi he shared it with the defendant and another man but "did not go where he wanted to go."

Selman directed the vehicle to the Quinton area where they were joined by two others.

The court was told he grabbed the victim's phone who was then told he would have to pay £250 to get it back.

When he said he did not have the money he was then threatened and intimidated into unlocking the phone.

In passing sentence Judge Paul Farrer QC said Selman at one point had threatened to kill the man and went on "It is apparent from having read the victim's statement that you played a leading role amongst the four.

"Eventually one of your accomplices held him down and repeatedly slapped him while you made good your escape with the phone.

"It is apparent there was a significant impact on him and he plainly terrified at the time of this event.

"He was left feeling anxious and scared to go out on his own at night."

Selman was on bail and awaiting trial when he struck again on March 13 last year

He approached another man outside the same club who was drunk asking for money.


The defendant then ripped off a gold chain, worth about £200, which had been around the victim's neck, leaving a red mark, before running off down Small Brook Quensway.

However shortly after Selman was detained by officers who suspected he was involved in drug dealing.

By this time the victim, who had followed the defendant, identified him to police as the man who had robbed him.

In passing sentence the judge said, referring to the first robbery, "This was a group robbery in which you played a prominent and leading role. It was plainly a prolonged incident."

He said because the second victim was drunk he had been vulnerable.

Theresa Hunt, defending, said Selman cold remember little of either incidents, that he had only been 19 at the time of the first and that he had a lack of education and maturity.