Seven armed robbers have been jailed for being part of a gang which raided two Brighton jewellers.
Four others are due to be sentenced today at Kingston Crown Court for conspiring to carry out armed robberies locally.
The 11 men were caught after Sussex Police provided intelligence to the Metropolitan Police Flying Squad.
The Flying Squad was looking into a series of 38 related robberies across London and the South of England, working with several police forces.
The 11 men were among 30 people being sentenced yesterday and today, with 17 members of the gang sent to prison yesterday.
Twenty one other gang members were sent to prison after other trials over the past three years.
The two raids in Brighton took place at Watches of Switzerland in Ship Street on Friday 21 November 2008 and Gold Arts in The Lanes on Monday 26 January 2009.
They were among six robberies across Sussex, one of which, in Chichester, two years ago, was unsuccessful.
The gang stole Rolexes and other high-value watches often in broad daylight.
Two, three or four of them at a time carried out the robberies dressed in white overalls and balaclavas.
Armed
Armed with sledgehammers, axes, and CS spray, they smashed their way into jewellery shops and stole a haul worth more than £3.5 million in total.
The gang also targeted motorcycle dealerships.
They tied up staff then loaded several motorbikes into stolen vans.
The gang then used the motorbikes as getaway vehicles after robbing the jewellers.
The five criminals masterminding the raids were
- James Stewart, 28, of Fair Meadows, Maidstone
- Billy Johnson, 28, of Sturdy Road, Southwark, London
- His brother Danny Johnson, 29, of the same address
- Anthony Bado, 28, of St Clement’s Road, Boscombe, Bournemouth
- John Chambers, 35, of Swiftsden Way, Bromley, London
Chambers admitted conspiracy to burgle and the others were jailed for conspiring to rob.
The Watches of Switzerland robbery was carried out by Stewart along with Aaron Phillips, 22, of Westhorne Avenue, Eltham, London, Kevin David Cook, 28, of Wiston Road, Bethnal Green, London, Charles Sadler, 22, of Glenalvon Way, Woolwich, London, and Lee Fairbank, 31, of no fixed address.
The Gold Arts robbery was carried out by Phillips and Sadler.
Stewart and Billy Johnson were both jailed for 14 years and Danny Johnson for 11 years and 4 months.
Bado was jailed for 12 years and Chambers for 9 years and 4 months.
Sadler and Phillips are due to be sentenced today.
Dangerous
Detective Chief Inspector Mark Ling, of Sussex Police, said: “This was an excellent example of forces working together and in particular providing initial intelligence from Sussex to support the Flying Squad team.
“A dangerous group of offenders have now been brought to justice as a result.”
Detective Inspector Jason Prins, of the Flying Squad, said: “These sentences are the result of a lengthy operation by the Met’s Flying Squad.
“We targeted these violent individuals who have shown they were prepared to use significant force to steal large quantities of jewellery.
“The incidents were terrifying for the staff members and their customers who were caught up in them.
“It is our duty to protect people from this level of violence.
“These defendants operated as an organised criminal network, meticulously planning and carrying out the most brazen daylight raids.
“I am very grateful to, and extend my thanks to, the industries concerned and colleagues from other police forces who worked very closely with us to ensure this extensive operation gathered sufficient evidence to present the strongest case to the court.
“The sentences also demonstrate our commitment to deal with violent and organised crime in our communities and sends out a strong message that this type of criminal behaviour will not be tolerated.”
