Gang's victims 'scarred for life'

Paul Mitchell suffered a fractured eye socket

The victims of one of London's most violent street gangs in recent years may be scarred for life, a court has heard.

Many of them were savagely beaten and warned they would be tortured or killed unless they handed over their belongings.

"The violence inflicted was ruthless and severe and bordered on the unimaginable," prosecutor Francis Sheridan told London's Wood Green Crown Court.

He said although most had recovered from their physical injuries, their mental scarring would probably last a lifetime.

He said many were now fearful of going out alone, while others varied their routes home and one was considering moving.

Pedro Frota, 19, Sofian Majera, 22, and Robert Lincoln, 18, all from east London, were beginning life sentences after admitting 17 robberies.

Frota's older brother Luis, 22, got four-and-a-half years for his lesser role.

The court heard they cruised east and north London at night armed with guns, knives and baseball bats looking for victims.

Fractured eye socket

Paul Mitchell, 48, from Harlow, Essex, had just parked his car near his home when he was attacked by the four in November 2005.

He said: "I turned round just in time to see a fist about five inches from my face. The punch was so powerful that it fractured my eye socket and cheekbone in four places."

He was knocked to the ground and kicked and punched in the head and chest.

"They took everything I had including my car and just left me for dead on the street. They also took my house keys, and had my address, and told me they would shoot me if I didn't give them my pin number."

Senseless violence

Matthew Way was set upon after getting off the Tube at 12am on his way home.

Matthew Way said he was hit in the face with a pole

"I got attacked from behind with a bat or a pole round my face," he said.

"I was dragged into a car at knifepoint and threatened [with being] shot if I didn't hand over my money and all my belongings..."he said.

"The whole way through I couldn't see anything because I had my jumper pulled over my head and I had knives up against the side of my body."

Det Insp Lloyd Gardner was part of the investigating team praised for its work by the judge.

"This was one of the most violent street robbery gangs to operate within London in the last five years," Mr Gardner said.

"They used gratuitous and senseless violence that saw victims kidnapped and tortured."

He said it had been a particularly difficult investigation because there were only vague descriptions of the attackers.

The 10-month, £300,000 inquiry amassed more than 1,000 exhibits as well as nearly 300 witness statements.