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CONVICTED: Dean Cramer (right) Leon Black

TWO MEN have been jailed in connection with a string of armed robberies on bookmakers and shops across east London which netted more than £50,000.

Dean Cramer, 32, and Leon Black, 29, were sentenced on Friday (Sept 16) at the Old Bailey after admitting a number of offences committed over a 15-month period.

It is believed more than 35 premises were targeted including a number of bookmakers as well as small supermarkets.

Cramer of Plaistow, east London, was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment after admitting ten counts of robbery, three attempted robberies and 13 counts of carrying a firearm with intent.

For two counts of robbery he was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment on each count, and for the remaining 8 counts of robbery he was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment on each count - all to run concurrently;

For three attempted robberies he was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment on each count, and for 13 counts of carrying a firearm with intent he was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment on each count.

Black of Walthamstow, east London, was sentenced to eight years imprisonment after admitting three counts of robbery, one count of attempted robbery and four counts of carrying a firearm with intent.

For one of the counts of robbery he was sentenced to eight years imprisonment;

For the two other counts of robbery, the attempted robbery and four counts of carrying a firearm with intent, he was sentenced to seven years imprisonment on each count - all to run concurrently.

On two separate occasions shots were fired during the course of the robberies, including a 2009 raid at Tesco in Bow, east London, in a bid to warn staff that their weapons were real.

On September 30, Cramer, Black and another man attempted a raid on the William Hill bookmakers in Hainault Road, Plaistow, when flying Squad officers, and officers from CO19, followed them into the premises and arrested them.

Police recovered an unloaded Webly revolver which was linked forensically to a previous robbery.

Detective Chief Inspector Ian Corner said: "Cramer and Black were committed armed robbers who targeted commercial premises throughout east London. They thought nothing of threatening law abiding workers with firearms and discharging them causing great danger and fear to the public.

"This highlights the Flying Squad and Metropolitan Police Service's commitment to tackling gun crime and removing dangerous offenders from our communities," he added.