A Bexleyheath burglar is facing jail for his part in a series of "aggressive" smash and grab robberies.

David Mays, 35, of Chessington Avenue, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rob jewellery store Mappin and Webb in central London.

Police believe Mays threatened "terrified" members of staff with fellow gang member Boz Burbridge, 31 from Camden, while armed with a sledgehammer and an axe.

He and eight others will be sentenced at Kingston Crown Court tomorrow.

At 10.30pm on April 28 last year, alleged gang leader Vincent Kamara, 28, from Camden, Danny St Luce, 29, from Islington, Mays and Burbridge drove to Mappin and Webb.

They used one of two motorbikes to burst through the doors.

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Two men - believed to be Burbridge and Mays - ran inside, wearing helmets and armed with sledgehammers and an axe.

A third man, thought to be St Luce, waited outside.

They threatened "terrified" members of staff before Kamara directed Burbridge and Mays towards the most valuable watches.

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Mays

They smashed through glass cabinets and took more than £300,000 of Rolex watches, leaving the weapons behind.

The watches were dropped off at a house linked to the gang in Islington.

Three hours later, Met Police caught two men surrounded by the stolen watches with the price tags still attached.

They were Reece Dunford, 31, of Essex - who has been involved in ten robberies - and Hatton Garden jeweller Yair Cohen (below), 71, of Hackney.

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An investigation was launched.

The other criminals to be sentenced are:

  • Hollie Dowding, 25, from Essex, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to handle stolen goods from Prada and Jimmy Choo.

  • Rusudan Kritcheli, 49, from Hackney, who was found guilty of converting criminal property and becoming concerned in a money laundering agreement.

  • Patrick Spencer 0'Brien, 23, from Islington, who was found guilty of conspiracy to commit robbery at Jumeriah Carlton Tower Hotel.

  • St Luce and Burbridge pleaded guilty of conspiracy to rob Mappin and Webb.

  • Kamara was found guilty of the same charge.

  • Cohen was found guilty of six counts of conspiracy to handle stolen goods, coverting criminal property, entering into a money laundering agreement, or cheating the revenue.

  • Dunford pleaded guilty to 11 counts of conspiracy to rob, burgle, produce class B drugs, or handle stolen goods.

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