Jail for gang who targeted trains

Four of the gang members were captured in one CCTV frame

A gang of thieves who targeted passengers on London trains has been handed lengthy jail terms.

British Transport Police spent hours painstakingly tracing the four men using CCTV before making an appeal on the BBC's Crimewatch programme.

The gang, all from London, targeted both commuter and Tube trains in their campaign of robbery and threats.

Within hours of Crimewatch airing in January 2008, the public responded by naming the gang members.

The four men were arrested within two weeks and pleaded guilty at Southwark Crown Court to a total of 17 counts of conspiracy to rob, robbery and attempted robbery.

'Barbaric and inhumane'

The most prolific member of the group, Melvyn Gay, 27, of Walthamstow, east London, was sentenced to nine years and will also be subject to a five-year licence extension upon release.

Sheldon Williams, 20, of Clapton and Aaron Flemming, 20, of Hackney, east London, received four-and-a-half years each and Douglas Lawrence, 20, of Tottenham, north London, was sentenced to five years.

In respect of each of you, I must make clear that you pose a significant risk of serious harm to others Judge James Wadsworth

The court heard the men terrorised passengers as they demanded mobile phones, MP3 players, jewellery, wallets and PIN numbers for cash cards.

Some of their victims were kicked and punched during their ordeals that one of the accused admitted was "barbaric and inhumane".

Detective Constable Jon Pine, from British Transport Police, said: "They targeted men, women and children and warned them of severe consequences if they resisted their demands."

Their victims were mainly young and vulnerable, including a 15-year-old girl travelling alone.

Judge James Wadsworth, sentencing, labelled the gang's tactics of fear and intimidation as "nasty" and said their use of knives was even more dangerous given that they were often high on drugs and alcohol.

"In respect of each of you, I must make clear that you pose a significant risk of serious harm to others because of the likelihood of further offences involving robbery or the use or carrying of knives."