FOUR people have been sentenced for a violent robbery which led to the death of a police officer.

PC Gary Toms died from head injuries after being invloved in a car chase through Stratford and Leytonstone on April 11 this year.

The robbers had earlier forced their way into a house in Dagenham where a 30-year-old victim was punched in the face and kicked while on the floor.

They stole a laptop and other electronic goods before fleeing in a silver Chrysler.

A short time later, officers in an armed response car chased the get-away car towards Leytonstone High Road after it failed to stop.

At 6.43am the Chrysler was stopped in Ashlin Road, Stratford and PC Toms, a specialist firearms command officer, got out of the car and suffered serious head injuries.

The 37-year-old was taken by ambulance to hospital but died six days later.

Investigating officers decided no criminal proceedings should be brought in relation to PC Toms' death, following a report by the Met's Collision Investigation Unit.

The inquiry into the death could not assertain how PC Toms suffered the fatal injury.

Mansour-Jacques Jallow, 26, of no fixed abode, previously pleaded guilty to robbery and was sentenced to six years in prison at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Friday.

Temitope Iyiola, 20, of no fixed abode, admitted dangerous driving, fraud and handling stolen goods.

He was sentenced to nine years in prison for robbery, nine months for fraud, three months for handling stolen goods – all to run at the same time - and an additional 12 months for dangerous driving, to run consecutively.

He was also banned from driving for three years.

Austin Ante-Taylor, 19, of Oak Lodge Ave, Chigwell, and Mary Fowler, 21, of Forest Lane, Stratford, were found guilty of robbery. Ante-Taylor was sentenced to seven years in jail and Fowler eight years.

DCI Mick Broster, who led the enquiry, said: "The aftermath of the incident led to the death of PC Gary Toms, a much-respected officer, and although there is no suggestion the defendants were directly responsible, our thoughts remain with his family as undoubtedly this court case will have brought back to them the events of that night."

An inquest into PC Tom's death is due to be held at Walthamstow in January.