TWO prolific robbers who pulled off a string of armed raids including at Hornchurch Tesco during a five-day crime spree have been jailed.

Steven Brewer and Ben Greig, both 18 at the time, targeted two shops, a bookmakers, a security van and even stole a motorist’s car by brandishing a handgun.

The east London pair were sentenced to jail last year for the car-jacking in East Horndon on November 5 2008 - Brewer to four years, two months and Greig to two years, six months.

At Snaresbrook Crown Court on Thursday, October 7, Brewer and Greig were handed additional two-year and one-year sentences respectively, to run consecutively to their current sentences, after admitting a series of armed heists.

On November 3 2008 Brewer, Grieg and a third masked suspect who is still wanted by police targeted a G4S security van at Tesco Extra, in Hornchurch Road, as it replenished three ATMs but the guards were able to retreat into their vehicle.

“The gunman banged on the door, pistol whipped it and tried to lift the handle,” said prosecutor Angus Bunyan.

“He shouted: ‘Open the f****** door’ and was going absolutely ballistic.

“Eye-witnesses describe three men being involved in the attempted robbery.

“Brewer accepts being one of the men who approached the security van.”

The same evening the gang burst into Coral bookmakers in Ripple Road, Barking brandishing a gun. A security camera recording was shown in court.

Judge Tudor Owen said: “The terror frankly that it caused was obvious.

“You can see the staff and see that they were frightened.”

In the bookmakers raid Brewer cut his hand on some glass, which later helped police identify him by his DNA.

Two days earlier, the gang had struck at the S&M Supermarket in Constance Street, North Woolwich, east London, where a brave shop assistant tried to remove the raiders’ masks and still chased them out the shop as they fled empty-handed despite being pistol whipped by Brewer.

On the same evening the gang raided �1,300 cash from Lonsdale Supermarket in Lonsdale Avenue, Beckton.

During the raid a young girl, thought to have been just 12 years old, entered the shop and was threatened with the handgun by Brewer.

Brewer always wore a balaclava and distinctive white gloves and their getaway car was a silver Peugeot 207, driven by Greig.

Brewer, now 20, of Devonshire Road, Custom House, and Greig, also 20, of Eclipse Road, Canning Town, both admitted conspiracy to rob.

Brewer further admitted conspiracy to have with him an imitation firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence, namely robbery.

Police believe the third suspect to be Ebenezer Tiewei who is currently wanted for questioning.