TWO men from Havering have been jailed at the Old Bailey following a Flying Squad investigation into 13 linked robberies against shops in east London.
Robert Russell, 21, of Leybourne Crescent, Harold Hill, was jailed for eight years and four months and Daniel Marston, 29, of Waterloo Road, Romford, was jailed for four years after both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery.
The men were among a gang of five who targeted small businesses including supermarkets and newsagents over a three-month period.
Wayne Lawrence, 29, of Thompson Road, E17, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit robbery, conspiracy to possess a firearm and imitation firearm and robbery on October 30.
He was sentenced on Friday to 14 years' imprisonment.
Stephen Nelson, 26, of no fixed address, was jailed for nine years and four months.
Joseph Henry Adams, 22, of Halbutt Street, Dagenham was sent down for three years and four months.
The gang used threats and violence against staff and were known to carry firearms and a hammer to steal cash and cigarettes.
During a robbery at a newsagents in Barking involving three of the suspects, a female member of staff was struck with a crowbar.
An investigation – codenamed Operation Losap – was launched by the Flying Squad based at Barking and on March 1, detectives swooped on Nelson, Lawrence and Russell after they entered a newsagents on Grosvenor Road, E17.
The men were found to be possession of a firearm. Further inquiries led to the arrests of Adams and Marston.
Detective Chief Inspector Ian Corner, of the Flying Squad, said: "The Flying Squad and the Met are committed to tackling violent offenders who carry weapons and are a danger to London's commercial communities.
"We understand the threat posed to many independent businesses and are committed to working with them to prevent offences and detect offenders."
The offences were carried out against 13 addresses, including Tina's Newsagents in Romford High Street on February 9.
