23 years for gunman in biggest UK gem robbery

A GUNMAN who terrified staff as he carried out the UK's biggest jewellery robbery has been jailed for 23 years.

Aman Kassaye planned and executed the "high stakes" heist at Graff Diamonds in Mayfair, central London, last summer, in which 40 million of gems were stolen at gunpoint.

He used a professional make-up artist to disguise his appearance and a series of getaway cars to make his escape, shooting at anybody who got in his way, Woolwich Crown Court heard.

Kassaye, of no fixed address, was jailed for 16 years for conspiracy to rob, a further five years for possessing a firearm and a further two years for kidnap, a court official said.

Petra Ehnar, a shop assistant who was working at the store in New Bond Street, told the jury she was "petrified" when the robbers forced her to empty the store's display cabinets with a gun to her back.

She filled a bag with 43 pieces of jewellery including earrings, necklaces and watches worth a total of 40 million.

One diamond necklace was valued at 3.5 million. The gems taken in the robbery have never been recovered.

Ms Ehnar, who was forced into the street by the robbers as they made their getaway, was told she would be killed if she did not carry out their demands.

Three other men - Solomun Beyene, 25, of Marylebone, north-west London; Clinton Mogg, 43, of Bournemouth; and Thomas Thomas, 46, of Kingston upon Thames - were each jailed for 16 years after also being convicted of conspiracy to rob.