Moped thugs who were filmed threatening members of the public with a hammer and an angle-grinder as they carried out a spate of thefts have been jailed.

Hisham Tawfik, 20, and his accomplices Thomas McDermott, 24, and George Fitzgerald, 17, have been jailed for a total of 20 years.

All three were sentenced at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday March 8 having pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing.

In December last year, they were caught on camera using a hammer and an angle grinder to threaten passers-by who tried to stop them from stealing motorbikes.

Footage showed Tawfik telling passersby to move on, before McDermott comes out from behind the bike and lurching towards the person filming with the grinder.

In a separate incident McDermott and young accomplice Fitzgerald attacked a 35-year-old man and stole his Rolex watch at knifepoint.

Tawfik was arrested on March 10 2017 after enquiries led officers to an address in Alfred Road, W2.

Fitzgerald was arrested on June 26 2017 at an address in Herries Street, W10, where he was found in possession of a bag containing clothing worn by himself and McDermott during the robberies.

McDermott was arrested on July 26 2017 at an address in Kilburn Late, W10.

Tawfik and McDermott pleaded guilty in September 2017 to nine counts of theft and the attempted theft of motorcycles. Fitzgerald pleaded guilty in October 2017 to conspiracy to rob.

DC Russell Farmer, of Westminster Crime Squad, led the investigation into the robberies.

He said: "We hope today's sentencing serves as some deterrent to those intent on committing moped-enabled offences that the Met will find them and bring them to justice."

DC Vic Barkes, also of the Westminster Crime Squad, led the investigation into the motorbike thefts. He said: "We're pleased to have put these three behind bars for their brazen crimes.

"I'm convinced that Londoners will be all the safer for it."