Two violent armed robbers who targeted a house in Rainham before fleeing the wrong way down the A13 have been jailed.

Romford Recorder: John Robinson (photo: Met Police)John Robinson (photo: Met Police) (Image: Archant)

John Robinson, 35, and Charlie Garratty, 25, were sent to prison for 12 years each after pleading guilty to a string of robberies and burglaries across London and Essex in 2011 and 2012.

In the early hours of January 13 last year, Robinson, of Dock Street, Tower Hamlets, and Garratty, of Roderick House, Raymouth Road, Southwark, planned to rob a car in Westlyn Close, Rainham, Southwark Crown Court heard.

But the homeowners disturbed the pair, who ran off, the Met Police said.

Robinson and Garratty fled to a waiting stolen vehicle and made off the wrong way down the A13.

Police officers and a Met helicopter pursued them until they abandoned the car and ran off. They were later caught and detained.

The pair had already stolen goods worth nearly £35,000 from a jeweller’s, a bookmaker’s, a pawnbroker’s and a supermarket, threatening staff members verbally and physically.

At Southwark Crown Court last week, Robinson and Garratty admitted robbery, firearms and burglary offences,

A third defendant, 23-year-old Jack Lloyd of Wrayburn House, Llewellyn Street, Southwark, pleaded guilty to two robberies and firearms offences, and will be sentenced later this month.