A gang who raided an Ilford phone shop last year in a string of “steaming” burglaries across London have been caught.

Ilford Recorder: The gang stealing phones from Carphone Warehouse in Charlton Barking. Picture: Metropolitan Police/PA WireThe gang stealing phones from Carphone Warehouse in Charlton Barking. Picture: Metropolitan Police/PA Wire

Carphone Warehouse, in High Road, was one of 42 branches of the chain targeted between July last year and January.

The eight, aged between 15 and 22, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary before being sentenced at Southwark Crown Court on Friday.

The group got away with around £150,000 worth of stock and caused £55,000 worth of damage during their six month spree.

They typically operated in a large group, meeting up and then travelling together to the venue they planned to steal from.

Unwitting members of the public and shop staff were often caught up in the confusion as the gang youths around the shops, intimidating those who got in their way and violently wrenching stock from displays.

Crown Prosecution Service reviewing lawyer Claire Holder said: “Staff and customers at the stores, some of which were with their children, were left terrified as the males rushed the stores and grabbed whatever they could get.

“The scale of this conspiracy resulted in a large number of witnesses and many hours of CCTV footage.

“People should be able to go about their work and their shopping without fear of violence and criminals who use these tactics to get what they want will be robustly prosecuted.”

Jahreau Shepherd, 22, of Tyers Street, Lambeth and 21-year-old Ugo Wilson were jailed for four years and 27 months respectively.

Perry Hedges, 18, of Howard Road, Kingston, was sentenced to 26 months’ detention in a young offenders’ institution.

Emmanuel Kakala, 18, of Cargreen Road, Croydon was given a suspended 18-month prison sentence and ordered to do 80 hours of community service, while 20-year-old Samuel Warnes, of Egleston Road, Merton, received a suspended 12-month prison sentence and 150 hours of community service.

Three others, aged 15 and 18 received a detention and training order of 10 months and 12 months respectively, and one 16-year-old was sentenced to 18 months in a youth offenders’ institution.