SCHEMING hoodlums were caught red-handed on the way to go looting during the height of the summer London riots.

The gang, dressed in a mixture of masks, balaclavas, gloves, hooded tops and coats, and, for some, multiple layers of clothing, were arrested on August 9 2011 after Safer Neighbourhoods Teams officers stopped two vans in West Ella Road, off Church Road, in Harlesden, and up to 40 occupants spilled out in all directions in an attempt to flee.

They had climbed into the vehicles after being spotted wearing latex gloves and examining the engine of a broken down Vauxhall Vectra which had earlier the same evening been stolen in a car-jacking at knifepoint carried out by five men in Brent.

DI Howard Holt, of the MPS Special Enquiry Team, said: “This group took advantage of the prevailing disorder in London at the time and conspired together to loot commercial premises whilst the resources of the Metropolitan Police Service were committed throughout London.

“All of them came equipped for the crime with latex gloves, masks and balaclavas. One of the letters on a van’s number plate had also been altered with black tape, to hide the true identity and ownership of the vehicle.

“Despite the compelling evidence of their culpability, some of the defendants insisted that they were not involved in the conspiracy.

“Many of them even claimed not to know each other when they were in fact from the same street gang.

“The fact is that these defendants planned and embarked on a crime together, equipped with vans, a stolen car, disguises and forensic protection, while clearly intent on burgling and looting.”

Twenty-two defendants, who were all convicted or admitted conspiracy to steal, were sentenced on Thursday to a total of 37 1/2 years in jail at Wood Green Crown Court in north London following the conclusion of the second of two separate trials, one beginning in September 2012 and the other in January 2013.

The second youngest gang member, Matthew Thomas-Howell, was also found guilty of possession of a sawn-off shotgun that police recovered from under his bed while the case against a 23rd defendant, a 32-year-old man, was discontinued by the Crown Proseucution Service following two hung juries.

BOX:

WOULD-BE LOOTERS JAILED

n Daniel Brice, 30, of Melville Road, Stonebridge - found guilty - 2 years

n Gibbou Ceesay, 32, of Windrush Road - pleaded guilty - 1 year 3 months

n Jermaine Clarke, 26, of Shrewsbury Road, Stonebridge - pleaded guilty - 1 year 6 months

n Antonio Dacres, 22, of Lawrence Avenue, Stonebridge - found guilty - 3 years 2 months

n Paul Donoghue, 23, of Windrush Road - pleaded guilty - 2 years 3 months

n Remahno Fearon, 29, of Barn Way, Wembley - found guilty - 2 years 3 months 1 week

n Lyes Ghazli, 21, of Fawood Avenue, Harlesden - pleaded guilty - 1 year 5 months

n Dennis Guerin, 32, of Mordaunt Road Stonebridge- found guilty - 1 year 4 months

n Aaron Jeffers-Gayle, 21, of Lawrence Avenue - pleaded guilty - 1 year 4 months

n Anthony Jones, 25, of Kenton Road, Kenton - pleaded guilty - 2 years

n Nicholas McDowell, 22, of Crawford Street, Harlesden - found guilty - 1 year 8 months

n Troy Morris, 30, of Charlton Road, Harlesden - found guilty - 2 years 6 months

n Jessy Muyolo, 20, of Lawrence Avenue - pleaded guilty - 1 year 6 months

n Abukar Omar, 23, of Hilltop Avenue - pleaded guilty - 1 year 4 months

n Thomas Purcell, 31, of Mandela Close, Harlesden - pleaded guilty - 1 year 3 months

n Jade Rodney, 23, of Canal Walk, West End Close, Harlesden - pleaded guilty - 1 year 5 months

n Jean-Pierre Taylor, 32, of Quainton Street, Neasden - found guilty - 2 years

n Matthew Thomas-Howell, 19, of no fixed address - found guilty - 4 years 4 months

n Kenyata Williams, 32, of Windrush Road, Harlesden - found guilty - 2 years 6 months

n Filmon Yohans, 22, of Hilltop Avenue, Harlesden - found guilty - 2 years 6 months

n teen, 17, who cannot be named for legal reasons - - 2 year youth rehabilitation order

n teen, 15, who cannot be named for legal reasons - - 2 year youth rehabilitation order