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Violent moped gang who caused chaos in London are jailed

A group of 12 men have been jailed for their roles in a series of robberies using mopeds across the capital.

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Members of a moped gang who carried out a string of high profile raids across London have been jailed after one of their terrifying attacks was exposed by Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda Holden.

They were caught on CCTV targeting a woman with a young child in broad daylight in Sandpits Road in Richmond.

The footage went viral after being circulated on social media by Ms Holden, who asked the public to “call 101 or 999 if u know these scumbags”.

Judge Georgina Kent, sentencing at Kingston Crown Court, described the incident as an “exceptionally serious and shocking attempted robbery”.

Pheobe Ruele was walking hand-in-hand with her son whom she had just picked up from nursery when two motorcycles road past, pulled into the road and waited for her on June 21 last year.

The court heard John McFadyen, 24, grabbed her arm hard enough to leave finger-mark bruises and told her: “Give me your rings. I’m going to hurt your child and take him away.”

John McFadyen
John McFadyen (Metropolitan Police/PA)

The gang aged between 18 and 36, including ringleader Terry Marsh, were sentenced for offences including conspiracy to rob, conspiracy to burgle, conspiracy to steal and handling stolen goods.

Taking them off the streets has helped cut moped-enabled crime in the capital by 52% in a year, according to the police.

Terry Marsh
Terry Marsh (Metropolitan Police/PA)

Although their first attempt on Putney Bridge was interrupted by an off-duty police officer, a highly-specialised BBC camera worth up to an estimated £180,000 was stolen from Lonsdale Road by Barnes Bridge.

Two of the gang members attempted to steal a BBC camera on Putney Bridge (Metropolitan Police/PA)

At one point they drove the wrong way up the A40 to try to shake off the helicopter chasing them.

Within a month, they returned to raid the store and left the security guard with head injuries, bruises and a foot injury.

The two raids cost the business a total of £80,000 in lost goods and damages.

The gang raid a clothing shop in Kensington High Street
The gang raid a clothing shop in Kensington High Street (Metropolitan Police/PA)

Myers, 19, of Shepherds Bush, was sentenced to eight years in a young offenders’ institution after admitting charges including dangerous driving and  conspiracy to steal.

He was found guilty of two further counts of robbery and possession of an offensive weapon.

Taylor, of no fixed address, was sentenced to nine years and four months at a young offenders’ institution for offences including conspiracy to steal and attempted robbery.

Steven Weller, 36, of Ealing, was jailed for six years and seven months for offences including conspiracy to rob and conspiracy to burgle.

Marsh, 32, of Fulham, was jailed for 13 years and two months for offences including conspiracy to rob and conspiracy to steal.

Ryan Moran, 36, of Fulham, was given concurrent suspended sentences of two months for conspiracy to steal, 24 months for conspiracy to burgle and a month for handling stolen goods.

John McFadyen, 24, of Feltham, was jailed for 32 months for conspiracy to rob, while his brother Isaac, 19, was sentenced to 32 months in a young offenders’ institution for the same offence.

Mitchell Leaver
Mitchell Leaver (Metropolitan Police/PA)

Scott Leaver, 25, of Lambeth, was sentenced to 56 months’ imprisonment after being found guilty of the same charge.

Aaron Pask, 27, of White City, was sentenced to six years and eight months for offences including conspiracy to steal.

Ram Monk 23, of no fixed address, was jailed for two years and eight months after being found guilty of conspiracy to burgle.

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