A group of “deplorable” internet pranksters who staged a fake robbery at two London art galleries before posting footage of the stunt on YouTube have been jailed today.

Five members of Trollstation burst into the National Portrait Gallery on July 5 last year, some with their faces covered, sending art lovers running away in panic.

The group, who were carrying fake paintings with them, then marched out of the gallery, holding their props aloft to pretend a robbery had taken place.

A similar video was filmed at the Tate Gallery later that same afternoon.

The group, who have won a huge online following for a series of controversial stunts around London, have been slammed by police for their actions at a time of heightened tensions over possible terror attacks.

Today, four of the group were sentenced at the City of London Magistrates’ Court after admitting causing fear and provocation of violence.

Daniel Jarvis, 27, of Whitehill Road, Gravesend. was jailed for 20 weeks, while 20-year-old Endrit Ferizolli, of Wakemans Hill Avenue, Brent, was handed a 16-week sentence.

Ebenezer Mensah, 29, of Sumner Road, Peckham and fellow group member Helder Gomes, 23, of Grantham Road, Lambeth, were both jailed for 18 weeks.

Back in March, cameraman Dan Vanh Lee, 31, of Belham Walk, Southwark, was jailed for nine months for his involvement in a series of stunts involving bomb hoaxes.

Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Constable Anthony Parker, from the Met's Public Order Crime Team, said: "The actions of these five men was outrageous.

“To go into busy public places wearing masks shouting and screaming at a time of heightened awareness of the terrorism threat facing the UK is deplorable.

"The group terrified those visiting the galleries. It is only by pure chance that no one was injured or suffered serious health issues as they fled in what the judge described as a "stampede".

“All five men now have a number of weeks in jail to consider just how unfunny their stunts actually were."