A 'dangerous' young man who carried out armed robberies on fast food outlets in Brent and Barnet last year with his brother has been jailed.

Marco Madeo of no fixed abode was also sentenced for stealing four minicab driver's mobile phones between January and March 2015.

Following the trials the 20-year-old was handed eight years in prison on 10 counts to run concurrently, at Harrow Crown Court on Friday (December 2).

On May 25, 2015, brothers Marco and Mario entered a fast food chain at around 11pm on High Road, Willesden.

They jumped over the counter threatening staff with a handgun, raided the till and made off with the cash along Park Avenue.

Firearms officers were called to the scene and shortly before midnight two officers spotted two men matching the description walking along Cricklewood Broadway.

The duo were seen entering another fast food outlet where they carried out a second armed robbery.

Firearms officers first to respond to gun and weapon-related incidents

Mario who was wearing a balaclava and in possession of a gas-powered handgun and stolen cash was detained by officers as he went to exit the premises.

Brother Marco escaped from officers from the rear of the building but was arrested two days later on May 27, 2015 and released on bail.

Further enquiries linked Marco to four minicab incidents including three robberies and a theft of mobile phones which were investigated separately.

Marco would get picked up by a minicab driver and in each case at the end of the journey would steal the driver's mobile phoe.

He pleaded guilty to these four offences on October 10, 2016, following a separate trial at the same court.

Then on October 28, 2016, Marco was found guilty of two counts of robbery, two counts of possessing an imitation firearm whilst committing robbery; and one count of possession of an offensive weapon.

Mario Madeo

Detective Constable Adrian Whitewick, who led the investigation by the Flying Squad, said: "Marco Madeo is a dangerous individual who used the threat of violence to intimidate his victims to carry out his attacks.

"Thanks to the dedicated detective work of the Flying Squad and officers from Wembley, Madeo and his brother are now serving lengthy sentences behind bars."

Sibling Mario Madeo, 20, of Willoughby Lane, Tottenham, was sentenced for his part in the fast food outlet robberies for seven years at Harrow Crown Court on October 8, 2015.

He had pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery and two counts of possessing an imitation firearm whilst committing robbery.