West Midlands Police have welcomed the decision after a cold-blooded murderer failed in his bid to reduce the amount of time he must spend behind bars.
In March 2020, Ty Blake was jailed for life for shooting dead James Teer in Erdington on the evening of the 8th August 2019.
As James played football in the street with his friends, Blake, formerly of Shustoke Road in Shard End, fired a shotgun at point-blank range into his face.
He was jailed for a minimum of 32 years alongside fellow murderer Sharn Miles, who was driving their getaway car.
Blake – who was 19 at the time of the murder – claimed the punishment was too harsh and lodged a bid with the Court of Appeal to reduce the length of his sentence.
On Wednesday 3rd February that appeal was rejected.
Detective Chief Inspector Scott Griffiths from West Midlands Police led the murder investigation. His team seized CCTV showing the callous pair walking into a take-away and ordering chicken and chips just 20 minutes after the murder.
The officers also recovered the getaway car and found a blood-stained tissue inside that returned a DNA hit to Blake. Police said it’s understood Blake suffered a cut lip when the shotgun recoiled into his mouth and used the toilet paper to dab away the blood.
DCI Griffiths welcomed the Court of Appeal ruling, adding:
“This was a callous and shocking assassination of a decent young man. I’m pleased the Court of Appeal have upheld the original sentence which was wholly justified.
“There were lots of aggravating factors in this case. It was a premeditated killing and a shotgun was fired in a public street in broad daylight with children and other people nearby. More people could have been injured or killed.
“Blake has taken a man’s life and he has to face the consequences and accept that most of his life will now be spent locked away from society.
“This is a clear message to anyone who is linked to gangs or firearms – you are risking serious injury, death or spending much of your life behind bars.”
West Midlands Police have released a statement on behalf of James’ family.
It reads: “We are very happy with the outcome from the Court of Appeal. Our gorgeous and happy son, James Teer, was not afforded the luxury of an appeal when Ty Blake decided to point a gun in his face and pull the trigger.
“It seems appalling that someone who has been found guilty of such a violent murder should be allowed to appeal, but this is the law.
“Our life, and future has been devastated by his actions and nothing can bring James back, but there is small comfort knowing that his killers are away for a long time and unable to cause pain or misery to any other family.
“We would also like to thank West Midlands Police for their excellent work, the CPS and the ambulance service who were all instrumental in bringing this murderer to justice.
“This outcome should also highlight that those who commit gun and knife crime are not above the law and when found guilty will be put away for a very long time.
“Ty Blake is now looking at a 32-year prison sentence because he believed he could take a life without consequence. Those who carry weapons also need to understand that prison is not a walk in the park, it’s a horrible place to spend any part of your life.”
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This is a decent result. He will be in his early 50s when he is released. If he so much as picks his nose in public, he must go straight back in forever.
Eye for an Eye Bro.