A "dangerous offender" from Brockley has been jailed for 10-and-a-half years after being involved in a gang which stole luxury watches in violent robberies.

The group of eight men were sentenced to a total of 54 years behind bars after watches worth a combined £280,000 were nicked.

Police said the gang seriously assaulted people, including a pensioner, during a spree of 14 robberies between May and November 2017 in the West End, Mayfair and Knightsbridge.

Ziyad Al-Daher, 28, of Brockley Road, was sentenced for nine offences.

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Police Sergeant Annie Yau said: "There was a shocking level of violence used in a number of the incidents with some victims being grabbed around the neck and thrown to the floor, often being kicked and punched when on the ground and watches ripped from wrists.

"They were all intimidated and threatened by these despicable individuals whose sole objective was to steal the high value items for their own greed.

"While the attacks were mostly at night, one took place in broad daylight when some of the gang mistook a cheap Rolex copy for the real thing. They also attacked a pensioner and made threats to stab some of the victims."

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She added some of the gang members stormed a Knightsbridge home before assaulting residents with their fists and a belt buckle.

They returned later to threaten those inside with bottles and a knife.

The eight men were sentenced at Kingston Crown Court on Tuesday (January 8).

Other convicted members of the gang are from Cricklewood, Ealing, Southwark, Croydon, Northolt and Camden.

One of the culprits is 18 and he received a five-year jail term.