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Sadistic robbers jailed for life | Sadistic robbers jailed for life |
(1 day later) | |
A gang of armed robbers have been jailed for life for kidnapping people and subjecting them to "sadistic and gratuitous violence". | A gang of armed robbers have been jailed for life for kidnapping people and subjecting them to "sadistic and gratuitous violence". |
More than a dozen pedestrians and motorists in London were beaten and stripped of their valuables. | More than a dozen pedestrians and motorists in London were beaten and stripped of their valuables. |
London's Wood Green Crown Court heard one man had his arm broken and another was tortured with a cigarette lighter. | London's Wood Green Crown Court heard one man had his arm broken and another was tortured with a cigarette lighter. |
Pedro Frota, 19, Sofian Majera, 22, and Robert Lincoln, 18, all from east London, admitted 17 robberies. | Pedro Frota, 19, Sofian Majera, 22, and Robert Lincoln, 18, all from east London, admitted 17 robberies. |
The court heard they cruised London at night armed with guns, knives and baseball bats looking for victims. | The court heard they cruised London at night armed with guns, knives and baseball bats looking for victims. |
Homophobia and racism | Homophobia and racism |
People they kidnapped were stripped of their valuables and warned they would be tortured or killed unless they handed over their pin numbers. | People they kidnapped were stripped of their valuables and warned they would be tortured or killed unless they handed over their pin numbers. |
Threats ranged from being shot and having their throats slit to their eyes being gouged and being burnt alive. | Threats ranged from being shot and having their throats slit to their eyes being gouged and being burnt alive. |
The jury was told the gang broke the arm of one victim who was so frightened he could not tell his attackers what they wanted to know. | The jury was told the gang broke the arm of one victim who was so frightened he could not tell his attackers what they wanted to know. |
Luis Frota was given a four-and-a half year sentence for his part | Luis Frota was given a four-and-a half year sentence for his part |
Francis Sheridan, prosecuting, said it was made clear homophobia and racial hatred occasionally played a part in the selection of victims. | Francis Sheridan, prosecuting, said it was made clear homophobia and racial hatred occasionally played a part in the selection of victims. |
Judge Witold Pawlak told Jamaican national Lincoln, 18, from Barking, Rwandan Majera, 22, from nearby Dagenham, and Portuguese national Pedro Frota, 19, from Barking, they must serve a minimum of seven years before they could be considered for parole. | |
Frota's older brother Luis, 22, escaped a life sentence and was handed a four-and-a-half year term for his lesser role. | Frota's older brother Luis, 22, escaped a life sentence and was handed a four-and-a-half year term for his lesser role. |
Judge Pawlak said: "Your crimes were usually late at night. You hunted in a pack and your violence was sadistic and gratuitous," the judge told them. | |
"In fact, each of you is addicted to violence and you treated your victims as though they were characters in an arcade game." | "In fact, each of you is addicted to violence and you treated your victims as though they were characters in an arcade game." |
'Difficult investigation' | |
Speaking after sentencing Det Insp Lloyd Gardner said: "This was one of the most violent street robbery gangs to operate within London in the last five years." | Speaking after sentencing Det Insp Lloyd Gardner said: "This was one of the most violent street robbery gangs to operate within London in the last five years." |
He said it was a "particularly difficult investigation" as the victims were only able to give a vague description of the men and there was no CCTV. | He said it was a "particularly difficult investigation" as the victims were only able to give a vague description of the men and there was no CCTV. |
During the 10-month inquiry more than 1,000 exhibits were collated, together with almost 300 witness statements. | During the 10-month inquiry more than 1,000 exhibits were collated, together with almost 300 witness statements. |
The offences took place between 31 August and 14 December last year. | The offences took place between 31 August and 14 December last year. |
All four defendants, who have previous convictions, face deportation after their sentences have been served. | All four defendants, who have previous convictions, face deportation after their sentences have been served. |