'Prince of Darkness' jailed

The most powerful of London's black gang leaders - Mark Lambie, known as the Prince of Darkness - was today jailed for 12 years.

At the end of a landmark trial at the Old Bailey in which three other members of the gang were also given hefty sentences, Judge Martin Stephens condemned the capital's black gang culture.

He said the gangs "demonstrated an outright rejection of the rules of society" and of their own community.

Lambie was convicted last week of kidnap and blackmail. Today the judge said: "The sentences must reflect public outrage at the use of guns and violence by men who appear to consider themselves above the law."

Lambie, 31, was cleared of the 1985 mob murder of Pc Keith Blakelock in the Broadwater Farm riot which gave him a feared street reputation as being untouchable.

He was convicted after the jury deliberated for more than a week after an 11-week trial.

Also jailed today were Anthony Bourne, 21, for 12 years, Warren Leader for 11 years and Francis Appiah Osei for nine years.

In April last year Lambie and Bourne set about two Jamaicans - Greg Smith "Beanyman" and Towayne "Tube Pac" Morris - who were bundled into the boots of two cars and later pistol-whipped and tortured with a hammer, electric iron and boiling water. They managed to escape and with "considerable courage" gave evidence, the judge said.

Det Supt Barry Phillips said: "This is a tremendous day for the black communities. They are sick and tired of these type of people."