A gang of robbers, including an 18-year-old from Upper Norwood, who double-steamed a group of university friends on a train have been jailed for a total of six years.

Theo Walters of Salters Hill pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rob and was sentenced to 18 months jail.

His cousin Rhio Walters Lee, Simon Nana Araku and Reece Patterson were also sentenced in Southwark Crown Court for conspiracy to rob.

The attack occurred on November 30, 2007 on a train travelling between Forest Hill and Brockley stations.

The court heard how a group of university friends heading out for the night were “eyeballed” by a gang of black males at Forest Hill station.

Members of the gang then surrounded the group of five friends and demanded a phone from one of the victims. The gang then got off the train at Honour Oak Park.

However they then reboarded wearing bandanas and scarves around their faces and surrounded the same group of friends.

They demanded mobile phones again, punching their original victim in the head when he explained his had been stolen.

Speaking outside the court, British Transport Police robbery squad Detective Dave Chenery said: "Other members of the gang then demanded valuables from the group and began seriously assaulting the group of friends.

"One of the victims lost a tooth in the incident and another was left with a bloodied eye in the attack. The group was also threatened with a weapon."

DC Chenery said during the attack Walters-Lee, Araku, Patterson, Walters and other unidentified members of the gang even began fighting among themselves over ownership of the stolen goods.

The gang got off the train at Brockley but not before one member demanded his victims shook hands with him.

The incident was captured on CCTV and the gang identified by members of the public.

Sentencing then, Judge Julia Khan said: "This was gratutitous violence and the aggravating factors are that it was carried out at night and on public transport."

Rhio Walters-Lee, 18, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rob offences and received a two year jail-term.

Reece Patterson, 18, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rob and was sentenced to 20 months jail.

Simon Nana Araku, 17, was found guilty of conspiracy to rob and received an 18-month jail term.

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