Armed robbers get life sentence

The pair were described as "extremely dangerous"

Two armed robbers have received life sentences for conspiracy to commit robbery and firearms offences.

Kevin Brown, 47, of Upper Park Road, Bromley, and Jonathan McAvoy, 24, of Victoria Road, Chislehurst, were arrested after a lengthy investigation.

Police said they had taken their "most extreme" steps to stop them escaping and to prevent intimidation of jurors.

Brown, a member of a notorious crime gang, is to serve at least 11 years in jail, and McAvoy at least five years.

The pair pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit robbery and firearms offences in 2005.

Two-month operation

Another of their associates, Gerald Wilson, 43, of Court Lane, Dulwich, was also found guilty of conspiracy to commit robbery earlier this week. He received a 10 year sentence.

During a two-month operation, officers tailed McAvoy and Brown as they drove around Chislehurst following cash delivery vehicles as they made their rounds.

Certainly Kevin Brown considered himself too good at his job to be convicted Det Insp Vincent Payne Protected: jury and witnesses

The pair were seen driving to Sidcup on 7 September 2005. Brown was seen grabbing a shoulder bag, balaclava and crash helmet, then approached a cash transit vehicle making a delivery to a nearby petrol station on Footscray Road.

A marked police car drove past and the pair tried escaping in two vehicles, but were stopped by armed officers nearby.

Brown was searched and officers found two loaded firearms, ammunition, a stun gun in the shoulder bag strapped to his body and a walkie-talkie.

The court heard Brown was a member of a crime gang known as The Untouchables, while McAvoy had been exposed to the criminal underworld from an early age, with his uncle Micky McAvoy taking part in the Brinks Mat gold bullion robbery in the 1980s.

'History of violence'

Det Insp Vincent Payne said: "Certainly Kevin Brown considered himself too good at his job to be convicted. He's at the top of the tree of armed robbers."

The nine-week trial, at Woolwich Crown Court, saw armed guards patrolling the court in an effort to deter any escape attempts. Police described it as the "most extreme package of security measures".

Jurors were kept out of public view, referred to only by number, and given armed protection 24 hours a day during the trial. Prosecution witnesses were also only referred to by number.

Det Chf Insp Steve Richardson, from the Flying Squad, said: "Kevin Brown's successful prosecution is a significant result in every respect for the Flying Squad.

"He and McAvoy have a history of violence, use of firearms - the firearms recovered have been linked to other serious incidents - and without doubt members of the cash delivery business will be a lot safer now they are in prison."