An axe-wielding gang of seven moped robbers have been jailed for a combined total of more than 40 years for a string of crimes across Camden, Islington, Westminster and the City – including a £90,000 heist at a handbag store and the terrifying attempted robbery of a West End jewellery shop.

21 year-olds Miguel St Martin and Alfie Warry have been locked up along with Reece Salmon, 20, Harry Doyle and Henry Histon – both 18. A 16 year old and a 17 year old will also serve time in a young offenders’ institution, while another 17 year old will be sentenced on March 22.

On March 16 2018, St Martin, Doyle, Histon, the 16 year old and two others attempted to rob Boodles on Sloane Street, Westminster using samurai swords. They were unable to break in, and a 48 year-old passerby attempted to intercede, only to be stabbed in the back and knee. He has since recovered.

Then on April 24 2018, St Martin, Warry, Histon and one other burgled the Saint Laurent luxury store also on Sloane Street, making off with £90,000 worth of handbags.

St Martin, of Argyle Square, Kings Cross will serve 12 years in prison for the crimes – which include a pair of street robberies and GBH in relation to attacking the passer-by on March 16.

Warry of Baldwin Gardens, Camden, was sent down for nine years, with Histon – Gilbert Place, Camden – and Doyle – of Radnor Street, Islington – given six years imprisonment each.

Salmon, who lives in City Road, Islington, will be in jail three years and nine months.

The 17 year old was sentenced to six years in a young offenders’ institute – where the 16 year old will also spend two years.

Det. Sgt. Danny Watts said: “I am very pleased with the totality of these sentences which have contributed to the reduction in moped crime and made the streets of north London safer.

“The imprisonment of this organised vicious criminal gang who caused hurt, harm and misery to countless people, and criminal damage to shops and retailors, is the culmination of a complex and successful operation.”

The perpetrators were arrested as part of Operation Vocare – set up specifically to target the Islington-based gang of moped thieves they were part of.