Thugs who tried robbing Arsenal stars Mezut Ozil and Sead Kolasinac jailed for more than 100 years

 

A gang of armed thugs who terrorised London with a string of robberies including trying to rob Arsenal stars Mezut Ozil and Sead Kolasinac have now been jailed for more than 100 years.The machete-wielding mob of eight men targeted wealthy areas and broke in to people's homes. They also tried robbing wealthy people of their cars, and demanded money or high-value watches from April 2019 to July 2020. One of the gang members, Jordan Northover, and an accomplice ambushed Arsenal stars Sead Kolasinac and Mesut Ozil as they tried to rob the Gunners footballers of their £200,000 luxury watches last year in London.The footage showed as a fearless Kolasinac chased off the two thugs while Northover threatened to stab him in the street. The gang, who were sentenced at Harrow Crown Court, carried knives or machetes to threaten victims committing around 20 offences.In one sickening raid, members of the gang forced a locked bedroom door open before shoving a terrified 80-year-old woman to the floor.They then smashed her wardrobes and demanded to know where the safe was before fleeing when the pensioner told them she didn't have one.In another burglary on June 12, 2020, a mum was at home with her two children when two burglars wearing balaclavas smashed their way in with a crow bar.The mother ran upstairs and hid while the suspects stole the keys to a black Audi.The following day in St Johns Wood, five men wearing balaclavas broke into a home and threatened a man with a knife to his throat and a gun before fleeing.On July 16, 2020, in Brondesbury Park, four masked gang members broke into a house and held a crowbar to a man's head before threatening his wife.When the woman denied having a second safe, one thug threatened to "go and see her daughter" who was sleeping.The gang stole £93,000 of jewellery and £6,000 cash.The cowardly mob were finally caught three days later after trying to rob police surveillance officers who had spotted them carrying out a burglary in Barnet Gate.Flying Squad officers and a police helicopter were scrambled before four of the suspects – including Northover – were arrested.The gang was sentenced at Harrow Crown Court this week and now have a total prison package of over 100 years.Patrick Delaney, 30, from Camden was jailed for 16 years for conspiracy to commit robbery and burglary and attempted robbery.Martin Delaney, 29, Camden was caged for 11 years for attempted robbery and robbery with Kiaron Jones-Hewitt 27, sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment for attempted robbery.Andy Kiasuka-Kiakanda, 26, was sentenced to 14 years and four months’ imprisonment for conspiracy to commit robbery and burglary.Jordan Northover, 28, was jailed for 18 years and sentenced to six years’ imprisonment to run concurrently for the attempted robbery of the two Arsenal players on July 25, 2019.Ryan Leurs, 19, from Hampstead was sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment, Steven Barton, 20, to nine years and Cheyenne Cato, West Hampstead was sentenced to 15 years in jail.Detective Sergeant Gary Taylor from the Flying Squad, said: “The way this gang targeted their victims and threatened them with weapons during their crime spree was truly shocking and abhorrent. The impact these heinous crimes have had on the victims cannot be understated.“These defendants wrongly thought they wouldn’t be caught. However, Flying Squad officers were able to close the net on these robbers and bring them into custody after a proactive surveillance operation.“I would like to praise the victims for supporting this prosecution, and I hope these convictions will go some way to giving them some comfort. Across London, officers are working hard to keep the public safe by identifying people involved in serious violence and bringing them to justice.”