AN Ilford man is among three people sentenced for a string robberies from security vans delivering cash across north east London.

Nana Wallace, 20, of Leamington Gardens, was sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court alongside Richard Agyemang, 21, of Alfred Road, Bayswater, and Martin Danquah, 19, of Woolwich Manor Way, Newham.

They were handed a total of 21 years in jail for the robberies, which took place between August 2008 and July 2009.

Wallace received seven years for his part in a total of 23 robberies.

Supermarkets, post offices and petrol stations were all targeted in Ilford, Stratford, Canning Town, Barking, Tottenham, Plaistow, Walthamstow and Chadwell Heath.

Two robberies were also committed in Richmond and Hounslow.

On each occasion, the men concealed their faces before 'rushing' guards as they made collections and deliveries in the early hours of the morning.

They would then flee in a waiting car and although no weapons were used, a police investigation revealed they had access to firearms.

Wallace pleaded guilty to eight offences.

A fourth man, Muanza Da Silva, 22, of Tiptree Crescent, Ilford, pleaded guilty at Snaresbrook on September 21 to the conspiracy and was jailed for seven-and-a-half years.

Da Silva pleaded guilty to two offences and was also convicted of eight more offences committed separately between October 20, 2008, and November 29, 2008.

Det Insp Ralf Kirchel, of the Metropolitian Police's Flying Squad, said: "The arrest and conviction of these men has resulted in a reduction in cash in transit robberies in north east London.

"The investigation leading to their arrests was protracted, requiring expertise, diligence and determination to prevent the spread of criminality to younger and more vulnerable members of the community."