A GANG who carried out a string of violent robberies on petrol stations have been jailed for a total of 14 years.

Daniel Smith, 18, Joseph Shuttleworth, 19, and James Thornton, 18, targeted vulnerable petrol stations, including two in Uxbridge Road, Mill End, during a month-long crime spree.

The three pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery after a string of violent attacks on petrol stations in August and September last year.

More than 20 officers from Hertfordshire and Thames Valley police forces were involved in the investigation, which finally saw the arrest of Smith and Shuttleworth at a hotel in Gerrards Cross and Thornton at his home in Yiewsley, Middlesex.

Detective Constable Karen Warner from the western area crime unit said: "The first offence in Hertfordshire was relatively low level but a lot of violence was used during the last robbery.

"The victims in these robberies feared for their lives."

Smith and Shuttleworth were jailed this week for five years each and Thornton was sent to prison for four years.