GUN-toting robbers on a mad spree who were shot at by armed police in a dramatic arrest will go to jail for a total of nine years. Ashton Cato-Bell, 19, of Lilburn Walk, St Raphael s Estate, and Tyrone Mundle, 20, from Northolt, were sentenced at Harrow

GUN-toting robbers on a 'mad spree' who were shot at by armed police in a dramatic arrest will go to jail for a total of nine years.

Ashton Cato-Bell, 19, of Lilburn Walk, St Raphael's Estate, and Tyrone Mundle, 20, from Northolt, were sentenced at Harrow Crown Court on Wednesday last week after a spate of robberies across Brent in just over a fortnight.

They were caught robbing bookie William Hill, in Church Lane, Kingsbury, on June 25 this year. Neither had been in trouble with the police before.

Det Sgt Neil Williamson, Flying Squad, said: "I think they just lost their way and went on a mad spree over a three-week period.

"Neither has been convicted of any offence before and both come from good families who are absolutely devastated by what they have been up to."

Nine bookmakers, including two in Greenford, were targeted between June 8 and 25 this year.

On each occasion Cato-Bell walked calmly into the bookies, pulled out an imitation Glock handgun and demanded money. He is thought to have taken around �5,000 from all the robberies.

Mundle was only implicated in the final robbery when police swooped on them as they committed the act.

They were nabbed when the Flying Squad mounted a surveillance operation on

Cato-Bell when he became a prime suspect.

Officers spotted him getting into a car, driven by Mundle, and making his way to the William Hill in Church Lane.

Cato-Bell got out and robbed the shop but turned and fled when police tried to grab him as he left. Shots were fired by police.

He was caught and arrested after a short chase and Mundle was arrested in his car.

Cato-Bell admitted nine counts of robbery and nine counts of possession of a firearm with intent to commit robbery and was sentenced to six years in jail.

Mundle admitted one count of robbery and one count of possession of a firearm with intent to commit robbery and was sentenced to three years.

Bookies robbed were William Hill, in Heather Park Parade, Wembley, Harrow Road, Wembley, and Church Lane Kingsbury.

A Betster and William Hill, in Greenford, were both hit and there were attempted robberies at Paddy Power in Harrow Road, Wembley, and the William Hill in Heather Park Parade, Wembley.

alex.wellman@archant.co.uk