A SERIAL robber who targeted a host of businesses in Harrow, on one occasion wearing a life-like latex mask to disguise himself, has been jailed for 14 years.

Henley Stephenson was sentenced on Friday last week at Wood Green Crown Court for 19 counts of robbery and five counts of possessing a firearm.

The 41 year-old of Great Peter Street, Westminster, was jailed alongside two accomplices, Leon Topper, 22, of Gosforth Lane, Watford, and 26-year-old Dean Williams, of Peabody Buildings, Dufferin Street, in East London.

Topper was sentenced to eight years after he admitted two counts of robbery and two counts of possessing a firearm, while Williams was handed six years in prison for robbery and possessing a firearm.

Stephenson had pleaded guilty to the offences during a hearing on November 21 last year, while Topper and Williams entered guilty pleas at the start of a trial on April 18.

The gang-of-three were arrested on July 26 last year as they targeted a cash in transit security guard outside Curry’s, in Staples Corner, in which Stephenson, who was wearing a high visibility orange jacket, pointed a semi-automatic pistol at the guard and they snatched a cash box containing £19,800.

Earlier that day, Stephenson had attempted to rob a cash box from a cash in transit security guard outside Lidl supermarket on The Broadway, Stanmore. On that occasion Stephenson left the scene empty-handed.

Four days earlier however Stephenson and Topper robbed staff at Coral bookmakers, in Station Parade, South Harrow.

Terrified staff and customers ran for cover after Stephenson stood in the middle of the shop and fired a pistol into the ceiling immediately after stealing £600 in cash.

The week-long crime spree started on July 20, when Stephenson robbed counter staff at William Hill bookmakers, in Alexandra Avenue in South Harrow.

He was again in possession of a firearm and he made his escape with around £600.

A month prior to the string of offences, on March 28, Stephenson robbed a cash in transit security guard outside Tesco Express on Shaftsbury Circle in Harrow – wearing a lifelike latex mask to conceal his identity. On that occasion around £250 was stolen.

Stephenson initially pleaded to these five offences at a plea and case management hearing, and later pleaded to a further 14 historic robberies across dating as far back as 1999.