A MAN who was part of a gang that threatened staff and stole cash from a string of village pubs has been jailed for ten years. John Stanley, 32, of Holme Crescent, Biggleswade, pleaded guilty to five offences concerning robberies at pubs in Hertfordshire

A MAN who was part of a gang that threatened staff and stole cash from a string of village pubs has been jailed for ten years.

John Stanley, 32, of Holme Crescent, Biggleswade, pleaded guilty to five offences concerning robberies at pubs in Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Bedfordshire.

At a hearing held at St Albans Crown Court, Stanley admitted being part of a group that targeted pubs, including two in Ashwell and one in Guilden Morden.

On December 19, 2007, three raiders carrying a piece of wood and what looked like a small crowbar entered the Three Tuns in Ashwell and confronted staff members, threatening violence before demanding money.

They took a small quantity of cash and a handbag belonging to a member of staff before making off in a vehicle.

The Three Tuns in Guilden Morden was raided in February 2008, with the gang threatening the landlady and making off with cash from the pub's safe.

Then in March 2008, two robbers threatened a member of the bar staff at The Bushel & Strike Pub in Mill Street, Ashwell using lengths of wood with nails sticking out, demanding that he open the till.

They then made off with a quantity of cash in a stolen silver Audi - which was later found burned out a short distance away.

Hertfordshire Police's Serious and Organised Crime Group led a joint investigation, also involving Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Essex police, into the robberies.Det Insp Dave Wheatley said: "This was a gang of criminals who used threats of violence, backed up by them carrying a variety of weapons, and all the victims of these offences suffered shock and trauma as a result.

"The judge in the case commended the investigating officers Det Sgt Perkins and Det Con Piggott. I would like to thank those members of police staff who carried out work in relation to the forensic aspects of this case.

"This outcome is a real credit to those involved in the investigation and we are delighted with the outcome.

"We have been successful in dismantling a highly organised criminal gang therefore making Hertfordshire a safer place to be."

Five other people were arrested and questioned about the offences but no charges have been laid against them to date.