A gang of five men who robbed security vans and laundered the cash were sentenced to a total of 22 years and six months in jail on Tuesday.

Mounir Boufas, 26, of Whitehaven Street, Marylebone, and Jamie Gillman, 26, of Frampton Street, Marylebone, along with three accomplices, were jailed at Wood Green Crown Court for conspiracy to rob.

Boufas received five years and Gillman five years and four months.

They were arrested in June when officers from the Flying Squad interrupted a raid on a security van in St Albans, Hertfordshire.

Gillman and Boufas were both found to be responsible for other robberies around north-west London, and attempts to launder the stolen cash.

Det Chief Insp Harry Hennigan, of Finchley Flying Squad, said: “I am pleased with the convictions and sentences given to these five men. Such was the amount of evidence gathered against them by the Flying Squad that they had no option but to plead guilty.

“We are committed to using our expertise and professionalism, often working with other force areas, to ensure we bring perpetrators to justice.”