Three members of a gang who terrorised wealthy residents in a three-month campaign of violent muggings around Hampstead have been jailed for a total of 23 years.

In many of the attacks the trio pounced on terrified victims in their own driveways and threatened then with hammers, a taser gun and knives.

They shattered their car windows before forcing them to hand over valuables such as designer watches, jewellery, cash and mobile phones worth thousands of pounds.

The 12 robberies took place in Hampstead, Hampstead Garden Suburb, Golders Green and St Johns Wood from March to June 2014.

The robbery spree was finally brought to an end by officers from the Flying Squad who studied CCTV footage and pulled together witness reports to identify the three suspects and mounted a surveillance operation. Undercover police followed them after they ambushed a woman in St John’s Wood, stealing her watch and handbag, on June 20.

Corrie Moroney, 23, of Wedmore Street, Tufnell Park, Alan Fitzgerald, 20, of Pollards Close, Holloway, and Ellis Parkinson, 21, of Tollington Road, Holloway, were seized from their homes in dawn raids.

Moroney, who admitted being involved in all 12 raids, was sentenced to 10 years in prison plus an extra year for assault.

Parkinson was jailed for eight years after admitting his role in seven of the incidents and Fitzgerald was sentenced to four years in a young offender’s institute after admitting his part in the last of the robberies.

Det Sgt Gail Lilley from the Serious and Organised Crime Command, said after the case: “I am very pleased with the sentencing and that three dangerous violent offenders have been caught who were terrorising residents. This sends a clear message to those involved in street robberies.”

Further details in tomorrow’s edition of the Ham & High.