Nightmare of steaming gang

Victims of Britain's biggest "steaming" gang spoke of their ordeal today after some of its members were convicted of a series of savage robberies.

The self-styled "Lords of Stratford Crew" stalked trains, Tubes and buses in search of targets and attacked them in groups of up to 20.

With "street tags" such as Killer, Packman, Driller and Bastard they would often take nothing more than a cheap mobile phone or packet of cigarettes as a token prize. Instead their motivation was the "thrill" of reducing victims to helpless wrecks. Most of their targets offered no resistance at all but were nevertheless punched and kicked to the floor.

John Tovey was married, with a son and a well-paid job when the gang tore his life apart. On a train from Camden to Stratford three thugs walked up to him as he was sending a text message to his wife and, without warning, started to kick and punch him.

They took his phone and walked off, leaving the 36-year-old badly shaken. "I thought that was it but then the door opened and 20 of them walked through and mobbed me," he said. "I was standing up and trying to fight back, but I was kicked and punched all over and they were trying to get me on the floor. I was convinced that if I fell they would kill me."

Mr Tovey suffered permanent sight damage and was transformed overnight from a confident man into a wreck who could not leave the house on his own. He lost his job as a ?70,000-a-year specialist welder and, after developing an alcohol problem, split up with his wife.

"I have only just managed to go back to work but I am now a labourer on a building site earning ?11,000 a year," he said. "I can no longer afford to send my 13-year-old son to his private school. I was not the only victim of that attack, they hurt my son and wife too."

Katie Taylor, 19, a student from Hackney, was on her way to see her boyfriend when 10 of the thugs subjected her to a violent assault, taking her phone. Two

male passengers in the carriage did nothing to intervene as the gang piled in with their fists. One member grabbed her in a headlock while others punched her face.

The attack lasted for several minutes until the train stopped at a station and the group ran away, leaving her covered in blood. "I sat there crying my eyes out," said Katie, whose name has been changed. "I could not get off the train because I was too scared and had no phone to call for help.

"It felt like it went on forever. What they did to me will stay with me for my whole life. They are animals, there was nothing human about them at all."

Jane Fellows, a 27-year-old who works in fashion, was set upon by 12 of the gang at Hackney Downs station after one of them grabbed her phone. "They surrounded me like a pack of wolves, calling out to me and telling me to let go of the phone," she said. "They started pushing me against the wall and I could feel their hands inside my coat. I screamed for help but there was nobody there."

Fortunately a train stopped at the platform and the appearance of four passengers scared off the men. Jane, who also asked for her real name to be changed, added: "I am still terrified on the streets and will not go on public transport. I am convinced the gang will find me again."

The jury heard evidence from 12 victims, but police believe there were many more attacks. The attacks, which covered an area from Romford to Dalston Kingsland station in Hackney, started on 15 September last year.

Detective Sergeant Steve Simmons, of the east London robbery squad, said: "They were not in it for what they could steal - they just loved the thrill of violence. These were horrendous attacks and if they had not been stopped I am sure we would have eventually ended up with a murder inquiry."

Those found guilty at Guildhall Crown Court were Michael Onward, 21, from Ilford, and four juveniles - two aged 16 and two of 17 - who can not be named for legal reasons. Judge Henry Blacksell remanded them all in custody for reports.