Violent robbers jailed for west London spree

Two people who embarked on a spree of violent robberies have been jailed, police said.

Sarah Hussain, 23, of Townsend Road, Southall, West London, and a 17-year-old boy, also from Southall, targeted people walking along quiet residential streets in the early hours of the morning.

They would then attack the victims, often using weapons, stealing handbags and mobile phones.

The robberies left some of the victims needing hospital treatment.

The pair were jailed to seven years imprisonment at Isleworth Crown Court after pleading guilty to conspiracy to rob, the Metropolitan police said.

The teenager also pleaded guilty to possession of an imitation firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence after he was identified for using a handgun during the course of two of the offences.

Throughout the summer of 2010, 18 offences took place throughout the London boroughs of Ealing, Hounslow, Hillingdon and Richmond,

Between 10 and 12 May two offences were committed by the pair who produced an imitation firearm and threatened the victims before stealing mobile phones and cash.

The couple were arrested for conspiracy to rob and the victims of the robberies attended an identification parade where they were able to identify Hussain and the 17-year-old as their attackers.

On 9 September 2010 the pair were charged with conspiracy to rob, and were remanded into custody. Due to the overwhelming evidence against them on 14 January 2011 they pleaded guilty.

Detective Constable Paul Brown, from the London Crime Squad, said: "It was apparent this pair believed they were too clever to be caught, using disguises and quickly disposing of the stolen property to ensure they could not be brought to justice.

"I hope that the victims of this pair and their cowardly actions can take some comfort from the sentence and I would like to thank them for all their help throughout what has been a complex and challenging investigation."