MEMBERS of a gang who reigned terror on shopkeepers and residents across the borough have been sentenced following a drunken “random” assault on an off duty taxi driver.

Four men, alleged to have formed part of the North Finchley and Hendon based Graveyard Family gang, were charged with actual bodily harm (ABH) on the 38-year-old, who was left with swelling and bruising to his head.

The attack occurred at about 2am on March 7, in Vivian Avenue, Hendon, after the gang of up to ten men had been out drinking to celebrate a birthday.

Three of the attackers, Mohim Mirlashari, 22, his younger brother, Miran Mirlashari, 18, and 18-year-old Mohammed Jawadi, all of Friern Park, North Finchley, appeared today at Wood Green Crown Court for sentencing.

A fourth defendant, Ali Nasrollahi, 18, of the same address, failed to appear and will be sentenced at a later date.

Prosecution barrister Jeremy Rendle told the court the men had spend much of the night in the Gallery Bar, Hendon, and had approached the victim after leaving.

He described the assault as “random” but said the four men punched the man to the ground and continued to kick him as he laid there.

The court was played CCTV footage of the attack, which showed a larger number of men, many wearing hoodies, gather around the victim before four of them began the attack.

Mr Rendle added: “The upshot of the attack, perhaps fortunately, was the injuries amounted to swelling and bruising.”

He said the men had been members of a gang known as the Graveyard Family, who had been responsible for “multiple instances” of harassment on shopkeepers and residents, although His Honour Judge Simon Carr made it clear sentencing would not take account of their involvement in that.

Barrister Rossano Cifonelli, who represented Mohim Mirlashari, said his client denied being part of a gang, and had been “shocked at his behaviour” having watched the CCTV footage.

Mr Cifonelli claimed Mirlashari had shown remorse and was a person of previous good character.

His younger brother Miran was also “deeply ashamed” of his actions, according to his barrister, Tony Ventham, and fully accepted it was a case of “nasty public disorder”.

Jawadi's defence barrister, Susan Rodham, said her client had not been the main instigator of the attack and had stopped drinking since the incident.

But Judge Carr said their assault was typical of the type of behaviour that “blights urban areas”.

He said: “Anybody who viewed the CCTV footage of what you did that night would have been left with nothing but disgust and horror.

“You picked on an individual with who you had no previous dealings. The posturing of you before the attack speaks volumes about you attitude that night.

“You attacked a complete stranger as a group until he was knocked to the ground. The fact he was not injured more severely is a miracle.”

All three men sat with their heads bowed and began sobbing as the sentences were read out, while their friends and family began crying in the public gallery.

Mohim Mirlashari was recognised for his previous good character and handed a nine month sentence, suspended for two years and ordered to serve 250 hours unpaid work in the community.

He will also be electronically tagged and bound to a curfew between 7pm and 7am for the next four months.

Miran Mirlashari, who was involved two weeks after the attack in another incident of public disorder and found in possession of cannabis, was sentenced to six months in a young offenders institution where he must serve half before being considered for release under licence.

Sentencing Jawadi, Judge Carr described his criminal record as “truly appalling” following a string of convictions including for public disorder, robbery and assault.

He was handed nine months in a young offenders institution and must also serve at least half before being being considered for release under licence.