Britain's most feared Yardie leader jailed

Britain's most wanted Yardie gangster and three gang members were given long jail terms yesterday in what police said was an important victory against London's crack-cocaine underworld.

Mark Lambie, who was known as the "Prince of Darkness", was the leader of the TMD gang, which, with fellow Yardies, kidnapped and tortured two men with a hammer, an electric iron and boiling water.

The 31-year-old, who was cleared of murdering Constable Keith Blakelock 17 years ago, had gained a reputation for being untouchable and for having mythical powers, of being a Obeahman, a Jamaican voodoo spirit who can never be killed.

His reputation was enhanced when he escaped a murder attempt in which a gunman shot an innocent man by mistake. But yesterday, after an 11-week trial, he was jailed for 12 years by an Old Bailey judge with another gang leader, Anthony Bourne, 21.

Detective Inspector Peter Lansdown from Scotland Yard's Operation Trident inquiry into so-called black-on-black murders said Lambie had been top of its most wanted list.

Lambie was 14 when he was accused of hacking to death PC Blakelock during the Broadwater Farm riot in north London in 1985. Charges against him and two other juveniles were dropped during the 1987 trial.

Judge Stephens told the gang members yesterday: "The sentences I pass must reflect the public's outrage for the use of guns and violence by men who believe themselves above the law. Crimes are too prevalent and blight the lives of the whole community."

Lambie, of Streatham, south London, and Bourne, of Tottenham, were each jailed for 12 years for kidnap and blackmail. Gang member Warren Leader, 21, of Wood Green, was jailed for 11 years and Francis Osei, 20, of Tottenham, was jailed for nine years. Bourne was cleared of attempted murder.

The jury was told the gangsters believed that their victims, Gregory Smith, 22, and Twaine Morris, 24, were involved in the drug trade and had access to large amounts of cash. They lured the men to Broadwater Farm where they were kidnapped at gunpoint bundled into the boots of two cars and taken to a flat. The kidnappings were the work of Lambie's gang and Bourne's outfit, known as The Firm.

The torturers scalded Mr Morris with boiling water and "mashed" his toes with a hammer. Mr Smith was attacked with a hot iron, but he managed to escape and ran barefoot to Tottenham police station. Mr Morris was being moved to another address when he saw a police patrol car and threw himself on to the bonnet while covered in blood.

The victims were placed in protection while police hunted gang members. Mr Morris later left and was shot three times within 24 hours of returning to the streets. He survived.

Detective Superintendent Barry Phillips said: "This is a tremendous day for the black communities as well as the police. They are sick and tired of having these types of people in their midst."

Police believe that Lambie could be responsible for several gangland murders.