TWO 16-year-old boys who prowled the streets of Islington robbing people and forcing them to withdraw money from cashpoints have been jailed.

The thugs were identified from CCTV footage after they went on a crime spree over a three-week period last October - and sentenced at Blackfriars Crown Court on Monday (21).

A 16 year old boy, of Barnsbury Road, Barnsbury, was sentenced to 24 months in a young offenders institute after pleading guilty to four robberies and four thefts.

A 16-year-old, of Collier Street, King’s Cross, was sentenced to 22 months in a young offenders institute after pleading guilty to two robberies and an attempted theft.

Their 15-year-old accomplice, of the St Johns Estate, Islington, escaped with a 24 month supervision order and an electronic tag after pleading guilty to three robberies and three thefts.

Detective Constable Kerry Cooper from Islington Robbery Squad said: “These young criminals targeted, assaulted and robbed men who were walking alone. In one incident, they jumped onto the unsuspecting victim’s back, knocking him to the ground and hitting him with a bottle before making off with his wallet and phone. I am pleased that justice has been served.”