Four men have been jailed for more than 25 years after a violent robbery in Mitcham last year.

Farid Yebbou, 46, was in bed at his home in Woodley Close, on the border of Tooting, at about 11.40am on October 16, 2014, when four masked men burst in wielding a gun and demanding money.

The men, who were all wearing balaclavas, ransacked the flat in a search for cash and 10 minutes after the robbery began, Mr Yebbou was able to call for help after jumping out of his ground floor window.

Shortly after, the robbers left the home and sped off in a black BMW, but were stopped with a matter of seconds by police officers in an unmarked car.

The men – Gary Mowatt, of Laura Place, Hackney, Sylvanus Scott, of Balham Grove, Balham, Kevin Rodgers, of White Hart Lane, Tottenham, and Peter Nunes, of Honeybrook Road, Balham – were arrested at the scene.

A Tokarev pistol was seized from the vehicle and the group were all charged with robbery the following day.

All four men were found guilty at Kingston Crown Court on Friday, April 17, after a two-week long trial and all handed prison sentences.

Scott, 39, was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison, Rodgers, 41, jailed for seven-and-a-half years, Nunes, 38, imprisoned for five-and-a-half-years and Mowatt, 39, was sentenced to six years in prison.

Mowatt was also jailed for an additional six months for dangerous driving.

Detective Constable Ed Currie said: “We commend the victim who, despite his horrendous ordeal, has found the courage to come forward and provide crucial evidence at court and stand up to their despicable actions.

“Fortunately, officers were close by to swoop in on the suspects and remove a live firearm from the streets. All of the evidence suggests that the motivation for this crime was purely for financial gain.

“They will now face a different consequence behind bars."