Bonnie and Clyde gang jailed

A couple who staged a series of "Bonnie and Clyde" style hold-ups across London before jetting off on Caribbean holidays were starting jail sentences today.

Neville Knight, 32, and his girlfriend Penny White, 25, were part of a gang of four who staged raids on security vans and one at an Asda supermarket in which staff were threatened and £60,000 stolen.

Days after one attack they were pictured on a beach in the Dominican Republic and drinking champagne in a swimming pool.

Knight, of Greenhithe in Kent, was sentenced to life after admitting three robberies, an attempted robbery and asking for three more to be taken in to consideration. A career criminal with a history of violent offences, he was also jailed for possession of a firearm.

White, who lived with him, was jailed for 10 years after admitting robbery with firearms at the Asda store. She was also sentenced for possession of a loaded gun and an £84,000 deception. Police suspect the couple were involved in more raids.

Snaresbrook crown court heard how during the supermarket robbery White acted as a lookout in the store, pretending to shop while she shadowed members of staff who were cashing up.

Knight and two unknown associates dressed in boiler suits and balaclavas burst in brandishing guns. Members of staff were dragged along the floor and threatened with guns.

Knight and two accomplices, Adam Lawrence, 35, of Dagenham, and Robert Hutson, 25, of Chadwell Heath, were arrested by Flying Squad officers after a failed robbery on a cash-in-transit van in Romford last November.

Knight was also involved in stealing £25,000 from a security van in South Woodford and £12,000 from a van in Chigwell as well as four other offences.

Lawrence was jailed for 12 years and Hutson for 10. They both admitted attempted robbery and possession of a gun.