Moped gang who terrorised wealthy homeowners in series of violent robberies using hammers, knives and tasers are jailed for a total of 23 years

• .Corrie Moroney, Alan Fitzgerald, Ellis Parkinson jailed for total of 23 years
• .All convicted of conspiracy to rob after three month campaign of raids
• .Targeted their victims due to their 'outward show of wealth' 
• .Designer watches and handbags and gold jewellery among their haul
• .Judge says their victims had suffered 'life changing' consequences

By SAM MATTHEW FOR MAILONLINE

A hammer-wielding moped gang who terrorised wealthy homeowners in a series of violent robberies have been jailed for a total of 23 years.

The masked raiders also brandished tasers and knives to terrify their victims, who were all selected because of their 'outward show of wealth.'

Most of the victims were targeted on the driveways of their plush homes and all of the robberies took place within a three miles or the affluent north London suburb of Hampstead. 

Rolex and Cartier watches were among the designer goods stolen, as well as rings worth thousands of pounds, plus cash, mobile phones and designer handbags. 

Celebrity cook Annabel Karmel had her handbag and £16,000 Rolex watch snatched by the gang outside her home.

Publishing boss Stan Myerson, the joint managing director of Northern and Shell, was also targeted for his watch and money.  

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Corrie Moroney, 23, pictured left, was involved in all 12 robberies and jailed for 10 years, plus an extra 12 months for a separate assault.  Ellis Parkinson, 21, pictured right, was jailed for eight years

A 57-year-old businessman was jumped by the gang in the gated driveway of his £2 million home in Hampstead.

The victim fought back - armed only with a broom - but his £24,000 watch and a gold chain were snatched.

The gang also smashed the windows of a car near a park as two parents put their children, aged four and seven, inside.

Alan  Fitzgerald, 20, was sent to a young offenders institution for four years

The children's mother said the £24,000 watch she was forced to hand over had been a gift from a sister-in-law who later died from breast cancer. 

Statements from the traumatised victims were read out at Blackfriars Crown Court in which they described suffering flashbacks, sleepless nights and their terrified children too scared to go out and play.

The nine-year-old daughter of one victim, who saw her mum being mugged by the gang, even wrote a disturbing poem about the incident, called Down From My Eyes Run 100 Tears. 

She wrote: 'How can you do something like this to someone so kind.' 

The robbery spree was finally brought to an end by officers from the Flying Squad who studied CCTV footage and pulled together witness reports to identify the three suspects and mount a surveillance operation.

Undercover police followed them after they ambushed a woman in St John's Wood, stealing her watch and handbag, on June 20th.

They were all riding mopeds with stolen number plates. 

Corrie Moroney, 23, of Tufnell Park, north London, plus Alan Fitzgerald, 20, and Ellis Parkinson, 21, both of Holloway, north London, were convicted of conspiracy to rob in relation to 12 incidents in May, June and July last summer.

Moroney, who was involved in all 12 incidents, was sentenced to 10 years behind bars, plus an extra 12 months for a separate assault when he fractured a man's cheekbone in a betting shop.

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Celebrity cook Annabel Karmel, pictured left,  and publishing boss Stan Myerson, pictured right, were both victims

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CCTV footage of the moment one of the gang targeted a businessman outside of his £2 milllion home in Hampstead

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The 57-year-old attempted to fight the members of the masked gang off with a broom 

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Despite the businessman's efforts they stole his £24,000 watch and a gold chain in the raid

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A masked raider was caught on the CCTV footage wielding a hammer at his terrified victim

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 Corrie Moroney, 23,  pictured left, showing off on his moped, and Alan Fitzgerald, pictured right

Corrie Moroney, pictured, was involved in all 12 robberies

Parkinson was jailed for eight years for his part in seven incidents and Fitzgerald got four years in a Young Offender's Institution  for his part in the last of the 12 robberies.

The court heard that since the vicious muggings, some victims are afraid to go out alone while others have installed security gates and employ ex-soldiers to patrol their streets.

Judge David Richardson said the trio had been responsible for a 'campaign of robbery' which had 'life changing' consequences for its victims.

'They will never forget what happened to them,' he said.

Detective Sergeant Gail Lilley, of the Serious and Organised Crime Command, said: 'I am very pleased with the sentencing and that three dangerous violent offenders have been caught who were terrorising residents.

'The sentencing sends a clear message to those involved in street robberies that they face a lengthy custodial sentence.'

THE HAMMER-WIELDING MOPED GANG'S THREE MONTH LONG CAMPAIGN

• March 5th, 2014 in Park Way, NW11. Victim hit in face with hammer and had watch taken.

• April 11th in Platt’s Lane, NW2. Victim grabbed from behind and had watch, rings and chain taken.

• May 1st in Farm Avenue, NW2. The victim was approached by suspect with a hammer. The victim was threatened and the suspect took her watch and phone.

• May 3rd in Priory Terrace, NW6. The victim was sitting in his car when two suspects approached the car. They smashed the window and took the victim’s watch and money.

• May 5th in Wray Cresent Park.The victim was walking along the road when he was approached and threatened with a hammer by the suspects. They took the victim’s watch, ring, phone, belt and sunglasses.

• May 7th in West Heath Road, NW11. The victim was on her driveway when she was approached and threatened by the suspect. The suspect took her watch and ring.

• May 14th in Asmans Hill, NW11. The victim was on his driveway when approached by the suspect and threatened with a hammer. The suspect took the victim’s watch and money.

• May 17th in Winnington Avenue, NW11. As the victim and his wife were leaving the park they were approached by the suspects on mopeds and threatened with a hammer. The suspects took both watches and a purse.

• May 30th in a petrol station in Wellington Road. The victim was approached by suspects on mopeds. They hit his car with a hammer and threatened the victim. The suspects took his watch.

• June 1st in Kidderpore Avenue, NW3. The suspect followed the victim into his garage. Smashed his vehicle window and threatened him with a hammer. The suspects took his watch and wallet.

• June 17th in Hamilton Terrace, NW8. The victim was parking her car when suspects approached on two mopeds. She was threatened with a hammer. The suspects took her phone and watch. The suspects then took her handbag from the back of the car.

• June 20th in St Johns Wood Road, NW8. The victim had just got out of her vehicle when she was approached by the suspects. The suspects took her watch and handbag. Police were able to recover this handbag.

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All of the robberies took place within a three miles or the affluent north London suburb of Hampstead (file picture)