Two thugs who savagely beat and robbed taxi drivers have both been jailed for 10 years.

During their 10-month crime spree, which was based around Wandsworth Road, Fabio Costa and Kevin Dixon placed a gun to one driver’s head, and on two other occasions held a knife to their victims’ throats while they stole their belongings.

Costa, 19, and 28-year-old Dixon, both of Hemans Street, Kennington, were sentenced to 10 years in prison for robbery and possession of an imitation firearm at Inner London Crown Court on September 3.

Sentencing the pair, Judge Joanne Lees said: “In all of the robberies the victims suffered from gratuitous beatings. The robberies were carefully planned and the level of violence was increasing and the sentence reflects that.”

Costa and Dixon began targeting cab drivers in November, 2008, when they robbed one of two mobile phones, a sat-nav and £120 cash outside Beames House.

They went on to carry out seven more robberies by ordering taxis to the Wandsworth Road area and then violently robbing the drivers on arrival.

Their final robbery took place in June last year when they stole a phone, PDA and £70 cash from a driver outside Dean House. In total, their victims were robbed of goods worth more than £2800.

The pair denied the crimes but, following a week long trial in July, the jury returned a guilty verdict by an 11-1 majority after just one day of deliberations.

They were convicted primarily on the basis of mobile phone evidence but they were also caught on CCTV.

Detective Constable Jonathan Lee, from Lambeth police, said: “As an investigative team we are happy with the sentences handed down by the judge. The punishment certainly fits the crime and sends a strong message to the criminal fraternity that we are committed to bringing them to justice.”