London luxury smash-and-grab raid teenage gang jailed

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-32707658

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A gang of teenage moped-riding armed robbers have been jailed for a spate of smash and grabs at some of London's most exclusive hotels and shops.

Five men aged between 17 and 19 were found guilty of involvement in last summer's robberies, which saw jewellery worth up to £150,000 stolen each time.

Kingston Crown Court heard they targeted business including the Dorchester Hotel and Rankins Jewellers.

The men were jailed for between three and 10 years each.

The court heard the gang used mopeds to reach and escape from their targets.

Fred Gosling, 18, of Portpool Lane, Camden, and Skye Roberts, 19, of Cubitt Street, Camden, were sentenced to 10 and six years imprisonment respectively for committing robbery between 9 June and 11 July 2014.

Gosling was also found guilty of attempted robbery at Rankins Jewellery on 22 July 2014 alongside Hermon Yemane, 18, of Highbury New Park, Islington, who was jailed for six years, and the 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, who was sentenced to four-and-a-half years.

Timeline of gang's robberies

Adel Soufie, 18, of Hazellville Road, Islington, was jailed for three years for conspiracy to commit robbery on 23 July 2014, to which the 17-year-old, Yemane, Gosling and Soufie also pleaded guilty.

Det Con Martin Lappin, from the Flying Squad, said: "This was a well planned and orchestrated series of robberies. I have no doubt that had we not apprehended these men when we did they would have continued to commit further offences.

"I am pleased with the sentences that have been handed down as they highlight that armed robberies are not victimless crimes."

Reed Roberts, 24, of Cubitt Street, was found not guilty of conspiracy to commit robbery between 9 June and 11 July 2014.