A conman who posted fake car advertisements then robbed his victims at knifepoint has been jailed for nearly 20 years.

Alexander Ogun-Moweta, of Castleton Road in Mitcham, set up the scam in June 2012 by posting fake advertisements for high value vehicles on the Gumtree website.

So brazen was the 21-year-old that while released on bail for robbing his first victim of £10,000 at knifepoint, he ran the scam for a third time beating up a father in front of his six year-old daughter who had fallen for his false advertisement.

On setting up the despicable scheme in June 2012, Ogun-Moweta was first approached by an interested buyer who had agreed to pay £10,000 for an Audi A5.

The buyer was lured to the junction of Commonside West and Chestnut Grove in Mitcham on June 18, 2012.

On arrival with his sister, two black males jumped over a fence and threatened the couple with a knife before demanding the £10,000 in cash which they then made off with.

As the pair waited for the police to arrive they were approached by another man who had also responded to the advert and had also agreed a fee of £10,000 with Ogun-Moweta, but who had become suspicious on his arrival and remained in his vehicle. On Tuesday, June 19 police arrested Ogun-Moweta at his home in Mitcham where the mobile phone used in the advert was found alongside£1,300 and the holdall which it was contained in.

Ogun-Moweta was charged with conspiring to rob both victims on June 21 but was released on bail the next day.

While on bail Ogun-Moweta brazenly continued the scam luring a third victim to the same area having posted an advertisement for a Mercedes C22 and negotiating a £10,000 sum with a buyer.

The victim arrived to hand over the funds with his six-year-old daughter and was met by a group of black males on mountain bikes.

Fearful for his daughter’s safety he told her to go stay with a resident he could see in a nearby garden.

The father was then surrounded by the gang and was repeatedly beaten as they tried to take his rucksack containing the money, but were unsuccessful.

Police were on this occasion unable to trace the telephone number used in the advertisement, but were eventually able to trace the IP address used to post the false advertisement to the home of Ogun-Moweta.

Ogun-Moweta was again arrested on December 11 and charged with a third count of conspiracy to rob.

He was found guilty of three counts at Kingston Crown Court on Thursday, June 27, was sentenced to 18 and a half years in jail, and ordered to pay £8,300 in compensation.

Passing sentence, Recorder Mr Featherby QC said: "You have been found guilty by a jury with the clearest possible evidence "You showed no remorse and your greatest regret is being caught when you thought your scam was foolproof "Whilst giving evidence you have tried to blame your brother and mother "You were the controlling member of the enterprise "Having watched you during the trial and giving evidence you gave the impression you wished to embark on a life of organised crime which will now not happen."

DC Simon Callcott, from Wimbledon CID, said: "This is the culmination of a lengthy and protracted investigation.

"For my colleagues and I who investigated these offences we are pleased that Ogun-Moweta has been sentenced to a term that reflects the seriousness of the offences he carried out."