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A violent gang of armed robbers were caught by police after one posed for a "selfie" sporting the same pair of pyjamas he wore for a raid.

The gang, who targeted newsagents in Kent and Sussex, created a group on Blackberry Messenger called Armed Robbers and took several "selfies", including pictures which showed one of them wearing a balaclava and posing with a handgun.

But the vain criminals were caught out after police examined one of their mobile phones and found photos of a man posing in the same bright blue pyjama bottoms - covered with pictures of cartoon sheep - that had been worn by a suspect in one of the robberies.

Terry Sullivan, 24, Thomas Balderston, 24, and Christopher Heath, 31, all of Ernest Road, Chatham, and Christopher Aldred, 23, of Kellaway Road, Chatham, were convicted at Maidstone Crown Court yesterday.

(Image: PA)

The court had heard how the gang terrified staff during seven armed robberies by wearing balaclavas, brandishing knives and in some instances a handgun.

They stole money from safes as well as taking cigarettes, scratch cards and stamps from a number of stores between April and June last year.

They also attacked a house in Boston, Lincolnshire, with the intention of stealing from the owner but she fought them off and they fled the scene.

But a Kent Police spokesman said that despite trying to avoid detection, "some of the men could not keep their actions to themselves".

After swooping on Terry Sullivan's home, detectives looked at one of his mobile phones and found the picture of him in his PJs.

(Image: PA)

The rest of the men were then arrested, and charged with possessing a firearm with the intention of committing an offence, and conspiracy to rob.

Heath and Sullivan admitted their guilt at Maidstone Crown Court and Balderston and Aldred were found guilty following a trial.

Detective sergeant Andy Nicoll said: "The crimes carried out by these four men were violent and often terrified the victims.

"The offenders were forceful, threatening and brazen and left the staff in those shops feeling that if they did not comply, then serious harm would come to them.

"Despite showing a level of forensic awareness some of the men became sloppy, taking selfies on their mobile phones.

"Whether this was narcissistic or not, it became their downfall and before long there was a wealth of unquestionable evidence stacking up against them. The men's desire to parade themselves as gangsters ultimately led them to jail."

The men will be sentenced next month.