Dim-witted robbers were caught after using their victim's Oyster card to board a bus minutes after attacking him.

The gang of three men and two boys were sentenced to nearly 13 years behind bars.

CCTV footage from the bus showed them rifling through the man's property, the Met said.

The victim had been walking along Chiswick Common Road, in Chiswick, on November 14 last year, police said, when he was attacked from behind and fell to the ground.

He was punched and kicked on the ground and his attackers demanded his property before running off when he gave them his mobile phone, cash and wallet.

Officers from Hounslow Serious Acquisitive Crime unit found the victim's Oyster card had been used to board a bus within minutes of the attack.

They arrested the robbers after viewing CCTV footage from the vehicle, which showed the attackers getting on and examining their loot.

All five were sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court on Friday (July 10), police said, having been convicted of robbery.

  • Shaun Forde, 21, of Bridge Avenue, Hammersmith, was sentenced to four years in jail
  • Craig McCafferty, 20, of Sutton Court Road, Chiswick, was sentenced to five years in a youth offenders institute (YOI)
  • Jack Freeman, 18, of Alexandra Gardens, Chiswick, was sentenced to two years and six months at a YOI
  • A 16-year-old boy, of Hounslow - who cannot be named for legal reasons - was sentenced to a 12-month detention and training order
  • Another 16-year-old boy, also of Hounslow - who cannot be named for legal reasons - was sentenced to a four-month detention and training order

They had all admitted robbery except for McCafferty and the second 16-year-old, both of whom were found guilty of the offence.

Detective Constable David Ward said: "As a result of the police working together with the victim, we were able to secure crucial evidence and present this before the courts.

"Forde is now beginning a lengthy jail term while the others are at a youth offenders institute.

"While at the institute, the young men will be spending a lot of time on training and education to help them to stop offending when their sentence is finished."