A GANG of youths who terrified customers of a Charlton mobile phone shop during a spree of raids across London have been sentenced.

Thugs targeted 42 Carphone Warehouse stores across the capital and swiped around £150,000 of goods between July and December last year.

CCTV footage captured a mother rushing to protect her child as the hooded group ripped stock from the walls of Charlton’s branch in Bugsby Way on November 17.

Eight males, aged 15 to 22 years, were sentenced on March 22 at Southwark Crown Court. They had all pleaded guilty to one offence of conspiracy to commit burglary at an earlier hearing.

The group were arrested after an intelligence-led operation by the National Mobile Phone Crime Unit (NMPCU).

Detective Inspector Mark Loving, of NMPCU, said: "Due to the hard work and dedication of officers and staff from the NMPCU, eight males have been successfully convicted in relation to organised pan-London offending.

“This case should act as a warning to anyone involved in this type of activity that the Met and NMPCU will robustly and swiftly deal with those who use intimidation to fulfil their greed.”

The eight offenders from various parts of London were given a range of sentences. Some were jailed for up to four years, others were given up to 26 months' detention in a young offenders' institution.