The group of teenagers carried out a spate of car robberies armed with a sawn-off shotgun and a fake handgun and wearing balaclavas.
They were caught after a high-speed chase at the end of a 48-hour crime spree which included four armed robberies.
Four members of the gang threatened a woman in Old Trafford to steal the keys to her Ford Focus and they used the car to target a string of victims.
They pulled up in front of another Ford Focus and pointed a gun at the driver and demanded his bracelet, robbed his passengers and stole his car.
The next day, July 23rd 2006, they robbed a man of his car in Whalley Range and later robbed a 14-year-old cyclist at gunpoint in Stretford.
Within hours another motorist was threatened with the shotgun and pistol whipped as the gang demanded his car. Police saw the gang in one of the stolen Ford Focus cars in Moss Side shortly afterwards and they were arrested after a high speed chase.
Five gang members have now been jailed at Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, after being found guilty of conspiracy to rob and firearms offences.
Lance Antonio Jones, 20, from Hulme, was jailed for 12 years. Kyle Weilding, 18, from Old Trafford, was jailed for seven years.
Kieran Proverbs-Brown, 19, Hulme, was jailed indefinitely and will only be eligible to apply for parole after seven years.
Convivted
He was already in jail for a minimum of 12 years being convicted of conspiracy to murder and firearm offences.
A 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was given an indeterminate sentence and will not be eligible for parole for five years.
Another 16-year-old, who also cannot be identified, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to conspiracy to rob, possessing a prohibited weapon and possessing an imitation firearm.
He was given an indeterminate sentence for the public protection and will only be eligible to apply for parole after four and a half years.
Police discovered mobile phone footage which showed the teenager, who was then aged just 14, demonstrating how to load a sawn-off-shotgun.
Speaking after the case, Det Insp Bob Tonge, of Trafford CID, said: "The members of this gang are dangerous and ruthless criminals.
"Trafford CID worked closely with GMP's Xcalibre Task Force in ensuring they were brought to justice and the impact of the custodial sentences passed today cannot be underestimated as this group terrified their victims. "Their victims and the wider community showed courage in coming forward and giving witness statements, which led to this gang being convicted. "The sentences passed today give a clear indication that this sort of criminality will be dealt with severely."
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Laura, more oil paintings?
I assume the legal reasons preventing the naming of the 2 16 year olds involves another case. If not, they're old enough to do the crime and the time so they damn well should be named.
I am sorry to say that I am an aunt of one of these so called gang members! my heart goes out to the victims who were subjected to a horrendous ordeal at the hands of these cowards. I just wish the judge had given them 25 years each ! They have no place in society. Hiding behind their guns, high on drugs and disgracing their families and fore fathers who sacrificed so much in order to give them a beter start in life. Having talked till we were sick of our own voices my family gave up as my nephew spiralled out of control from the age of 12 years old. I am not surprised he is serving 12 years in jail. His police record is as long as my arm, and they're just the crimes that we as a family have heard about ! He should have been put away years ago, which would have saved these innocent people from the upset and trauma they have endured at the hands of these parasites.In stead he was allowed to play the system, and sent home with a warning as each crime became more violent! until he reached his final number on the police "Totting Up System". I just hope he will reflect on his crimes and think about the people he terrorised during his reign on the streets of Moss Side, so why do I get the feeling that somehow this will not be the case, and he will simply return to the streets of manchester only to start exactly where he left off !But as the saying goes if you play with fire you are sure to get burnt ! I doubt it will be long before I will be reading his obituary in the M.E.N and I for one like his victims will not shead a tear.
Excellent result! I'm glad to see decent sentences passed out to most of them, makes a change and gives a sense of satisfaction that these offenders are away from the public for a while.
I wonder if the anti police lot will moan that the police dared to chase the offenders to catch them? Can they manage to find anything negative here to moan about?
The "Old" British family of days gone by wouldn't have produced these type of monsters. Where's the outrage?
Do you think they would have attempted to do what they did id the owner of the other car had a gun? Thank you but the gun laws suck. Criminals will always find a way to have a gun.
12 years for armed robbery and out in 6.
So in 6 years time, all of these will be out on the streets again.
In America, if you get 12 years, you do 12 years but over there, you wouldn't get 12 years for armed robbery, you'd get 20 years.
Now that's a deterrent
We're too soft in this country
Great work by the police to get them off the streets. They do not realise they are constantly damaging and abusing thier own neighborhood. No respect deserves no respect. Throw away the key.
Lets hope the parole board do us honest citizens proud by letting them get very very old before they are allowed out. Hope they have internet access to the MEN web site to see what we Mancs feel about them.
GENERAL HUGO WRIGHT-WONG, KNUTSFORD - Doubtful. The parole board are as out of touch as the present (not long to be) Government.
why are kids too young to be named, but think they are old enough to be in control of fire arms?
very good post by Anon regarding her nephew but i didn't really understand the comment 'Having talked till we were sick of our own voices my family gave up as my nephew spiralled out of control from the age of 12 years old.' 12 years old!!! if that was my son i would of kept him in, walked him to & from school & not let him out of my sight, i'd probably also have beaten him so hard he would never forget why i'd done it but we are not allowed to do that in todays stupid soft society & this is why there are so many problems with the kids of today
A good honest post by anon.
Usually in these types of cases the families of the offenders defend their "little darlings" and blame everyone but themselves for their crimes.
When they come back out what prospects are they going to have?
They will come back out with no money and have to do the same stuff again, who's going to give them a job? Not me!
What is the world coming to?
This is terrible, how are these people getting guns?
Are they made in England? Ban all gunsmiths!