'Why I turned in £1m raids gang'

A man who gave evidence against two notorious armed robbers has told why he helped convict them even though he now faces a life of fear.

Steven Roberts, 29, of Kilburn, was part of the Bradish Boys gang which pulled off 100 raids over five years netting £1 million. The robbers brought terror to banks, building societies and bingo halls across London.

Sean Bradish, 34, was sentenced to life four times over and Vincent Bradish, 38, got 22 years. The brothers were neighbours in Sutton.

Roberts got a reduced sentence of eight years on Friday for his part in 12 robberies after going into the witness box. An Old Bailey judge told him he will be "at serious risk of reprisal" when he is released.

Roberts said: "People talk about honour among thieves, but there isn't any. If you are looking at a 25-year sentence and you have the opportunity to cut it down, you would have to be very stupid not to take that opportunity.

"But it's not just about getting a cut in my sentence, it's also a new start. It's a chance to get away from the lifestyle and all the things that were killing me.

"If this hadn't happened, I'd be dead now."

He has been given a new identity under a witness protection programme and will serve his time in a high-security wing in case of attacks while in prison.

The Bradish gang spent weekends high on champagne and cocaine. There were exotic holidays and fast cars. But Sean Bradish was using increasing levels of violence.

Flying Squad officers were waiting for him on his next raid and the rest of the gang were soon caught.