A CRIMINAL has been jailed for a decade for taking part in a series of violent robberies on jewellers carried out when a stooge managed to fool wary staff.

One of the 13 elaborate heists on Asian jewellers in London and Birmingham happened at Raj Jewels in Ealing Road, Wembley, on March 28 2012 when a robber - dressed smartly in a pinstripe suit and trilby hat - was allowed inside and forcibly held the door open for nine armed and hooded accomplices to swarm inside and hold up staff.

They threatened employees and smashed display cabinets with axes and hammers before scooping up jewellery and fleeing.

Most of the other raids involved the same modus operandi but a different disguise.

In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said: “In many cases, a member of the gang would dress as a woman and approach the front door of the jewellers.

“Once buzzed in ‘she’ held the door open to let the rest of the gang in.

“They were armed with weapons such as sledge hammers and would create maximum havoc and distress.

“On some occasions the gang would set light to a vehicle in the street to distract the emergency services as they made their escape.”

Gheorghita Purice, of no fixed address, became the latest gang member to put behind bars following the sentencing last year of 10 associates.

The 21-year-old Romanian received 10 years’ jail at the Old Bailey today after admitting conspiracy to rob between 21 November 2011 and 15 September 2012 and conspiracy to rob between 1 October 2012 and 15 February 2013.

He was traced with the help of Europol and will be deported at the end of his sentence.

Detective Sergeant Andrew McGuire of the Flying Squad said: “Gheorghita Purice is part of a large group of Romanian men who have committed robberies across Europe, often being armed with hammers, firearms and stun grenades.

“Many of the group are now in custody across the continent awaiting sentencing for their part in offences in Italy, France, The Netherlands, Austria and Belgium.

“Without the continued help of the Romanian authorities and Europol it is clear that this dangerous criminal would never have been caught and subsequently convicted.”

Purice was convicted in his absence of robbery in Belgium in May 2013 and sentenced to four years’ imprisonment.

He was later arrested and served some of the sentence before being extradited to the UK.