Youths were part of a gang that struck five times

Two teenagers from Brent have been jailed for their role in a robbery gang that targeted a string of cash in transit vans.

Connor Ryan, 19, of Clifford Gardens, Kensal Rise, and a 17-year-old, who can not be named for legal reasons, were part of gang that struck five times between December 1010 and January this year.

Isleworth Crown Court heard the five robbers were snared after officers from the Met’s Finchley Flying Squad carried out a surveillance operation.

Ryan was picked out after he used bank notes covered in blue dye to place a bet in a bookmakers in January this year.

The notes were forensically linked to a robbery that had taken place days before.

The Brent teenager, David Carey, 25, from Westminster and Jerome Bishop-Taylor, 19, from Maida Vale, were arrested after they carried out a robbery in Baker Street.

Ryan and a fifth man 21-year-old Aaron Pope from Hammersmith, were arrested shortly after.

Yesterday (Monday), the 17 year-old boy was sentenced to four years and eight months and Ryan five years and nine months.

Both were convicted of attempted robbery and two counts of robbery.

Carey, Bishop-Taylor and Pope were sentenced to a total of 21 years and four months for robbery offences.

Detective Superintendent John O’Leary from the Flying squad said: “These are all young men and I hope their convictions will act as a deterrent to others.”

The gang targeted cash in transit vans at the following places:

Esso Garage in Abbey Road, Park Royal – December 20, 2010

HSBC in Park Royal Road, Park Royal – January 6

G4S Van at Nat West in Station Parade, Willesden Green – January 6

Queen’s Park Tube Station in Queen’s Park – January 24

Barclays Bank in Baker Street, Marylebone – January 27