Three teenagers who terrorised west London as they carried out a series of gunpoint robberies at brothels have been jailed.

Faisal Masood, 18, and Melchezidec Williams, 19, both of Goldhawk Road, Shepherd’s Bush, and Kyan Bhola, 17, of Rosedale Terrace, Shepherd’s Bush, were jailed on Friday (February 13) for a total of 32 years following a three-week trial - involving 96 witnesses - at Harrow Crown Court.

The teens carried out 13 offences in Westminster, Harrow, Barnet, Brent, Kensington & Chelsea, and Hounslow, between March 13 and June 25 last year - often two in a day.

The court heard how the men were highly organised and each offence involved a significant amount of planning as they would identify the brothels on the internet and visit them, posing as clients, after arranging an appointment.

They would then force entry and, once inside, would threaten the people with violence, either holding knives to their throats or guns to their heads, the court was told.

After linking the crimes, police raided two addresses in Goldhawk Road on June 27 and arrested 16 people who were later released on bail. They also seized 400 pieces of evidence including an imitation firearm and a large quantity of property, believed to be stolen.

Masood was charged on July 1, Williams on July 4 and Bhola on October 16 and all three denied any involvement. The trio pleaded not guilty but, after a three-week trial, the jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict.

Detective Sergeant Tony Bellis of Brent CID said: “This was a highly complex and protracted investigation.

"These offences were committed during hours of darkness with the use of weapons and disguises and were a harrowing and terrifying ordeal for all those targeted.

"Even in the face of overwhelming evidence, those responsible for committing these despicable crimes insisted on calling a number of the victims and witnesses to court to relive their ordeal.

"We are particularly thankful to those witnesses who attended court and in some instances returned to the UK to give evidence.

"These convictions send out a clear message that these offences will not be tolerated and that the police will work tirelessly to bring those who commit such crimes to justice. The sentences reflect the seriousness of the crimes and I hope they will act as a deterrent to anybody else who is considering committing such crime."

The majority of the 96 witnesses were foreign nationals who had since left the country so the Met liased with Interpol to trace them and secure their evidence at trial, receiving assistance from the Met’s language and cultural services to maintain contact, arranging for them to travel back to the UK to give evidence.

Masood and Williams were both sentenced to 12 years in jail for conspiracy to commit robbery and six years for possession of an imitation firearm, to run concurrently.

Bhola was jailed for eight years for conspiracy to commit robbery and four years for possession of an imitation firearm, to run concurrently.

Another man, Amjad Masood, 45, of Goldhawk Road, was acquitted.

The trio were convicted of robberies at:

  • 13/03/2014 - Westbourne Gardens, Westminster, W2
  • 30/03/2014 - Ashbourne Gardens, Harrow
  • 22/04/2014 - Kilburn High Road, Brent
  • 22/04/2014 - Westbourne Gardens, Westminster, W2
  • 14/06/2014 - Preston Hill, Brent HA3
  • 17/06/2014 - Kilburn High Road, Brent
  • 21/06/2014 - Northwick Avenue, Brent, HA3
  • 22/06/2014 - Warwick Road, Kensington & Chelsea, SW5
  • 22/06/2014 - Green Avenue, NW7 Barnet
  • 22/06/2014 - Green Avenue, NW7 Barnet
  • 23/06/2014 - Northwick Avenue, Brent, HA3
  • 25/06/2014 - London Road, Hounslow, TW7
  • 25/06/2014 - Hallfield Estate, Westminster, W2