A GANG of armed robbers who raided homes and then posted videos on the internet of sports cars they had stolen have been jailed.

The five members of Wythenshawe's Newall Green Crew gang were sentenced to a total of 24 years in jail after pleading guilty to numerous offences, including armed robbery and burglary.

They targeted homes with high-powered cars parked outside during an eight-month crime spree.

After threatening, beating and robbing the homeowners, they would then use the cars for other crimes, mostly robberies.

The cars stolen included a Subaru Impreza, which was shown speeding around the Wythenshawe estate and pulling 'doughnuts' in a video posted on Youtube by one gang member.

Also stolen between May 2007 and January this year by the gang were an Audi A4, Audi A3, a VW Golf and Seat Leon.

Detective Constable Stephen Philips said: "These five men are repeat offenders who have shown a complete disregard for the law.

"Between them they have targeted and terrified completely innocent members of the public.

"Thanks to a lot of hard work by officers at the burglary unit we were able to identify the offenders as key players in a gang who prided themselves on their criminal background.

"I am pleased they are all now starting considerable prison sentences. The streets will certainly be safer with them behind bars."

The gang were sentenced at Manchester Crown Court on Friday (28/11/08).

Michael O'Reilly, 20, of Barnwood Road, Newall Green, pleaded guilty to two counts of armed robbery and one count of burglary. He was jailed for seven years.

Jonathan Charles Costello, 22, of Foxlair Road, Poundswick, pleaded guilty to four counts of burglary at an earlier hearing and was sentenced to five years.

Matthew Sam Hackland, 21, of Greenbrow Road, Newall Green, pleaded guilty to three counts of burglary at an earlier hearing and has been sentenced to four years.

Derek Cotterill, 23, of St George's Court, Eccles, Salford, admitted two counts of burglary at an earlier hearing. He was jailed for three years.

Damien Lee Dean, 24, of Kennett Road, Newall Green pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary and handling stolen goods at an earlier hearing and was sentenced to five years.

Along with the five gang members, Paul Costello, 20, of Old Moat Lane, Withington, admitted handling stolen goods and going equipped for burglary at an earlier hearing and was jailed for nine months.