A team of violent robbers, who even tried to rob undercover police officers investigating them, have been jailed.

The group of eight men were part of an organised crime that carried out a string of robberies mainly around Finchley, Barnet and Hampstead between April 19 and July 19 last year.

Most of the robberies involved the gang, usually masked, forcing their way into homes or confronting people in their cars to demand money or high value watches.

It is believed that the members regularly carried knives or machetes to threaten their victims, and there were 20 known offences.

Their last burglary, on July 19, involved four members of the gang breaking into an address in Barnet Gate.

The home owners were away and an alarm was triggered by the burglars, so they fled the scene empty handed.

They made off in a stolen Audi from another burglary in Golders Green.

And in just half an hour later, they used a metal car to try smash the window of an occupied car in Thurlow Crescent, Hampstead, but made minor damages.

The car itself was actually an unmarked police car that was watching the gang’s activities, and as a police helicopter swooped in the four fled. Two were arrested as they fled on bicycles and tow were arrested in a nearby address.

Three large machetes or zombie knives were found inside the premises.

Suspects with knife on a moped (Photo: Met Police)

Suspects with knife on a moped (Photo: Met Police)

The following were found guilty of a four-week trial on November 10, 2020:

  • Patrick Delaney, 30, of Clarence Way, Camden was sentenced to a total of 16 years’ imprisonment for conspiracy to commit robbery and burglary and attempted robbery.
  • Martin Delaney, 2, of Hawley Road, Camden was sentenced to a total of 11 years’ imprisonment for attempted robbery and robbery.
  • Kiaron Jones-Hewitt 27, of Sherriff Road, West Hampstead was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment for attempted robbery.
  • Andy Kiasuka-Kiakanda, 26, of Rowley Way who pleaded guilty at the start of the trial and was sentenced to a total of 14 years and four months’ imprisonment for conspiracy to commit robbery and burglary, and a further offence of robbery.

Four other men were found guilty on October 28 of conspiracy to commit burglary and robbery:

  • Cheyenne Cato, 27, of Iverson Road, West Hampstead was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment.
  • Jordan Northover, 28, of no fixed address was sentenced to a total of 18 years’ imprisonment. He was also sentenced to six years’ imprisonment to run concurrently for an attempted robbery of two Arsenal football players (Mesut Özil and Sead Kolašinac).
  • Ryan Leurs, 19, of Maitland Park Villas, Hampstead was sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment.
  • Steven Barton, 20, of Denton Malden Crescent, Camden was sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment.

Detective Sergeant Gary Taylor from the Flying Squad, said: “The way this gang targeted their victims and threatened them with weapons during their crime spree was truly shocking and abhorrent. The impact these heinous crimes have had on the victims cannot be understated.

“These defendants wrongly thought they wouldn’t be caught. However, Flying Squad officers were able to close the net on these robbers and bring them into custody after a proactive surveillance operation.

“I would like to praise the victims for supporting this prosecution, and I hope these convictions will go some way to giving them some comfort. Across London, officers are working hard to keep the public safe by identifying people involved in serious violence and bringing them to justice.”