A gang of ruthless robbers who terrorised betting shops and convenience stores across the southeast have been jailed for a total of 40 years.
Justin Stockbridge, 45, Jamie Owen, 32, Paul Evans, 27, and Richard Mazzuccato, 34, armed themselves with knives, axes, a Taser and wore face masks as they raided various businesses across Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Surrey.
On Friday, Mazzuccato, from Rickmansworth, become the last member of the gang to be sentenced to eight years at Isleworth Crown Court.
The sentence comes after the Metropolitan Police released CCTV footage of Stockbridge, from Rickmansworth, threatening a cashier with a knife at a betting shop, believed to be Betfred, in Chesham on December 27, 2018.
One of the gang members, Justin Stockbridge, from Rickmansworth, was caught on CCTV threatening a cashier with a knife at a betting shop in Chesham on December 27, 2018
Justin Stockbridge, 45, (left), Jamie Owen, 32, (centre), Richard Mazzuccator, 34,(right) and Paul Evans, 27, raided betting shops and convenience stores across the southeast
The clip showed the raider, who had a distinctive tattoo on his forearm, leaning over the till and brandishing a knife to a member of staff.
He then went on to make jabbing motions towards the female worker, who tried to fight him off, before making off with the money.
Flying Squad detectives arrested Stockbridge on April 4 last year when they saw him driving a van outside a corner ship in Croxley Green, Hertfordshire, and found he had an identical tattoo on his right arm.
Stockbridge was later convicted of one count of robbery at Isleworth Crown Court and jailed for seven years.
He was also linked to other raids including a convenience shop in Penn, Buckinghamshire, on March 18 last year.
The gang, who also targetted taxi drivers, carried out the spate of armed robberies at betting shops, convenience stores between October 6, 2018 and March 18, 2019.
Evans was identified as a suspect in the earlier robberies by Hertfordshire Police and later arrested.
He made no question after his arrest while Mazzuccato claimed to have a £100 a day cocaine habit
Owen and Evans had targeted a taxi driver in King Street, Watford on October 6, 2018, Isleworth Crown Court heard.
When the driver refused to hand over money the pair assaulted him and Owen used a Taser before threatening to stab the victim. The pair made off with £80 and got into a vehicle parked nearby.
Police noticed that Stockbridge (left and right during raid) had a distinctive tattoo on his forearm
The thieves also robbed taxi drivers of their cash, cards and phones at knifepoint, holding a blade to the throat of one of the drivers.
Owen, from Chipperfield, Hertfordshire, was convicted of three counts of robbery and one count of possession of a Taser in a robbery and sentenced to 14 years.
Evans, of no fixed address, admitted three counts of robbery and was jailed for 11 years and one month.
Mazzuccato, from Rickmansworth, admitted four counts of robbery and was sentenced to eight years imprisonment.
Detective Sergeant Tim Fines, from Flying Squad, said: ‘I have no doubt that these suspects would have continued committing this horrific spate of robberies if they had not been identified and arrested.
Stockbridge made jabbing motions towards the cashier as he tried to get hold of the money in 2018
‘All of the robberies were terrifying ordeals for the victims – thankfully none of them suffered serious injuries during the attacks.
‘These suspects were not afraid to use violence, often just for small amounts of cash.
‘I am pleased that the jury agreed with the overwhelming evidence we built against the suspects and chose to convict them.
‘I hope the sentences handed down will act as a deterrent to those thinking of carrying out such violent crimes.
‘I would like to thank our colleagues from Hertfordshire, Sussex, Surrey and Thames Valley constabularies for their contribution to this investigation and continued assistance throughout the trial.’