Teen moped gang jailed for 100 robberies in less than three weeks

A gang has been jailed after using mopeds to carry out more than 100 robberies in less than three weeks - with their victims including former chancellor George Osborne.

The three teenagers and a 40-year-old man - who handled the stolen goods - were sentenced to a total of more than 18 years.

Their rampage, between 18 April and 5 May this year, targeted areas of London including Camden, Westminster, Chelsea and Islington.

Toward the end of their spree, the gang went armed as they searched for victims and some victims were threatened with a hammer and a metal bar.

Claude Parkinson, 18, and two boys aged 15 and 16 - who cannot be named - sold their loot to Shamsul Chowdhury.

A raid on his home found dozens of mobile phones and a list of 327 items he had received - values listed next to them totalled £52,150.

The gang had even attempted to steal the phone of former chancellor Gerorge Osborne and narrowly missed running him over, Southwark Crown Court heard.

Judge David Tomlinson said the "prolific moped-enabled crimes" were similar to "professional organised robbery" and involved a "significant degree of planning".

"By using mopeds you were able to commit multiple offences, which you could not have if you had simply been out and about on foot," he told them.

After the gang were caught, police reported a 40% drop in similar offences.

The arrests came after someone took a photo of the gang on their bikes which revealed identifying marks that included a chipped fingernail.

Parkinson, 18, was sentenced to five years and three months.

The other two boys got four years and two months each, while Chowdhury was handed a sentence of four years and 10 months.