A Wealthy private banker told a court today how she was bundled to the ground by two masked robbers and stripped of £40,000 of jewellery yards from her Hampstead home.

Elizabeth Kaye said she still suffered nightmares after the late-night attack in May last year. She is said to be one of five victims of a gang of violent muggers who targeted rich people including Sir Nigel Rudd, chairman of airports operator BAA, and his wife, who were robbed at knifepoint in their £7 million home.

Southwark crown court has heard that Gulam Gani, Nicholas Lewis and Shaun Wallace cruised wealthy areas in stolen cars looking for lone women and elderly people to rob, and stole jewellery worth a total of £242,000.

Mrs Kaye gave evidence from behind a screen about how she screamed as she was grabbed round the throat and robbed of items including a £25,000 diamond ring.

Gani, 47, of White City, Lewis, 34, of Romford, and Wallace, 30, of Ladbroke Grove, deny conspiracy to rob. The trial continues.