ROBBERS jailed for targeting students on trains are "cowards" says a teenage have-a-go hero who stepped in to save his classmates.

Liam Melly spoke out after eight of 10 gang members were jailed for almost 20 years after targeting his Dartford Grammar School peers.

The robbers began their three-month campaign aboard South Eastern Trains in February last year.

Up to 20 schoolboys, some as young as 11, were threatened with violence, forced to empty their pockets and robbed of mobile phones and MP3 players.

The eight gang members, sentenced on May 5 at Middlesex Crown Court, all pleaded guilty to charges of robbery and conspiracy to rob.

A-level student Liam had first-hand experience of two of the gang members while travelling home.

The 18-year-old said: "I was on the train with two boys who were in the same year as me but smaller than me.

"The month before one of them had a knife held to his throat by the gang.

"I was sitting a bit away from them, so I didn't have to get involved but I just stood up and told them to go away but they would not listen."

The gang members left the train after a fight broke out between the yobs and the pupils, during which Mr Melly received a black eye.

Mr Melly continued: "They were arrogant and thought they could get away with picking on people who could not stick up for themselves.

"They are bullies and cowards. They picked on boys as young as 11.

"People like that won't work, they refuse to work for their things and would rather go out and steal."

He added: "I would never stand back and watch something like that happen."

Sentencing the gang, Judge Henry Blacksell said: "The way in which these offences unfolded was depressingly familiar. It has had a dreadful effect on the community at large.

"They were showing a complete lack of disrespect for those travelling on the trains.

"It isn't just a question of whether victims were assaulted but without doubt they were terrified."

Sentences for gang

  • JOSEPH Fonseca, aged 17, of Maud Cashmore Way, Woolwich, was sentenced to four years after admitting four counts of robbery and four of conspiracy to rob.
  • Anthony Court, aged 17, of Jefferson Walk, Woolwich, was sentenced to three-and-a-half-years at a young offenders' institute after pleading guilty to four counts of robbery.
  • Hung Dang, aged 17, of Gorman Road, Woolwich, admitted one count of robbery and one of conspiracy to rob and was sentenced to three years' detention.
  • Michael Stone, aged 17, of Lord Warwick Street, Woolwich, was also given three years' detention after admitting one count of robbery and one count of conspiracy to rob.
  • Leonard Court, aged 19, of Kingsman Street, Woolwich, was given three years for robbery and attempted robbery.
  • Danny Parmenter, aged 19, of Thornham Street, Greenwich, was also sentenced to three years after admitting the same charges.
  • A 16-year-old and a 17-year-old, who cannot be named, were both given 18-month community rehabilitation orders.
  • Lee Hepburn, aged 18, of Maryon Road, Charlton, will be sentenced on May 12 after admitting one count of robbery and one count of conspiracy to rob.
  • Nicky Quirke, aged 19, of Tivoli Gardens, Woolwich, who pleaded not guilty to the same charges, will be sentenced at the same time.