Violent armed robbers jailed

Three young men have been given nine-year jail sentences for a string of violent armed robberies and carjackings across the Thames Valley and Surrey.

In just eight weeks, the gang carried out 12 raids on shops and ambushed two lone women drivers.

Thomas Chesterman, 19, of Reading, Matthew Dove, 20, of Addlestone, Surrey, and Gareth Davies, 21, of Ashford, Middlesex, were all found guilty of conspiracy to rob on Friday.

Bradley Smith, 22, of Ashford, and a 21-year-old who cannot be named for legal reasons, were cleared after the six-week trial at Guildford Crown Court.

'I will kill you'

The court heard how the gang "steamed" into stores across the Surrey and Thames Valley area just before closing time wearing balaclavas and masks while brandishing knives and guns, including an Uzi sub machine gun.

They would rip out tills and escape in a getaway vehicle within seconds.

Victims were often threatened, kicked and pushed to the ground.

During one robbery, a shopkeeper had a gun held to his head, as his assailant shouted: "Give me the money or I will kill you."

DNA tests

They were finally caught after police approached a stolen 4x4 vehicle parked opposite a BP garage in Old Windsor in February 2002.

A chase followed, in which the 4x4 was reversed into the police car and even driven over another vehicle in a bid to escape.

The car was abandoned, but sniffer dogs gave chase and caught Chesterman.

DNA tests later led to the arrests of the other men.