'Reservoir Dogs' gang jailed

A gang of ruthless armed robbers known as London's Reservoir Dogs who used Lottery cash to fund their raids were jailed for a total of 117 years at the Old Bailey today.

Judge Timothy Pontius told the gang that "the public deserves, demands and must receive that high degree of protection from the court".

He handed out the tough sentences on the robbers who committed a series of raids on security vans delivering money.

The gang leaders included Emmanuel de Silva, the chairman of a Lottery-funded charity who had also advised police on crime issues. Another was Antonio Bryan who also led attacks on wealthy victims in their own homes.

As friends and families of the defendants wept at the severity of the sentences, the judge said the robbers had terrified their victims with handguns and sawn-off shotguns as well as axes and iron bars.

He added: "In recent years the carrying of firearms has become routine and the use of them during criminal offences particularly on the streets of London has become commonplace and the source of very real and understandable public concern.

"Thus the clear responsibility and public duty of the courts is to pass sentences to punish, but much more importantly, provide a high degree of protection to the public."

He sentenced Bryan to 26 years for the security van robberies and also raids "on specific properties and wealthy individuals you targeted on reconnaissance trips in and well beyond the London area".

The judge said these robberies were characterised by "ruthless efficiency and merciless, horrifying brutality".

He added: "The evidence makes plain the sheer terror in each and every one of your victims and the lasting effect that these grievously frightening experiences had.

"I am not naive or stupid enough to think that any sentence I pass will have any significant deter rent or rehabilitative effect.

"You are a determined and dangerous criminal and it is my paramount duty to provide the public with as much protection from you as I lawfully and justifiably can."

Bryan, 27, of Ladbroke Grove, Notting Hill, had been convicted of conspiracy to rob but had also admitted five charges of robberies on some of London's most wealthy residents.

Emmanuel de Silva, 39, of Hammersmith, received 23 years, Orson de Silva, 27, of West Drayton, was sentenced to 24 years, David Samuel, 22, of West Ealing got 14 years, Brian Mason, 43, who worked for a security guard firm, was sentenced to 18 years and Nathan John, 24, of no fixed address, received 12 years.

These five had all been convicted of the conspiracy. Both de Silvas had also been found guilty of possession of firearms.

A seventh member of the gang, Ian Joseph, 29, of Marylebone, will be sentenced later.

The court heard that Emmanuel de Silva pretended he was running a charity for vulnerable black teenagers and tricked Lottery bosses into giving him a £5,000 grant for the "charity" Buyaka.

He worked with the Kensington and Chelsea independent advisory committee which liaised with police on stop and search tactics, drug abuse and race relations. But he was also "instrumental" in the robberies, the Old Bailey heard.

When the police raided two lock-ups used by the gang - funded by the Lottery cash - they discovered masks, guns, stolen cars and bullet-proof glass.