A “ruthless criminal” who went on the rampage in an extensive crime spree, including the violent burglary of a family, has been jailed for 16 years.

Michael Chambers and other gang members smashed their way into a house in Northfleet, armed with an imitation firearm, hammer, baseball bats and a knuckle duster, and stole over £22,000 in cash and expensive jewellery.

The 31-year-old father was also involved in a terrifying early morning raid on a Co-op store in Queenborough, in which a shop assistant was threatened and robbed of over £5,000, as well as numerous other offences.

Under an extended sentence for public protection, Chambers, of no fixed address, will have to serve two thirds before parole will be considered. He will be on licence for a further two years.

He admitted aggravated burglary, conspiracy to rob, burglary of Co-ops in Newington, Herne Bay, Longfield, Gravesend, Sevenoaks, Dartford, Tonbridge, Ashwal Garage in Cranbrook, attempted burglary of Martin’s Newsagents in Sevenoaks, theft of transit vans, and attempted robbery.

Satnam Singh, 18, of Mablethorpe Road, Thornton Heath, Croydon, admitted aggravated burglary, possessing an imitation firearm, possessing drugs, possessing criminal property.

Albanian Duad Rrapi, 18, of no fixed address, admitted two offences of aggravated burglary. Another Albanian Hekuran Uka, 17, of Woodmansterne Road, Streatham, south west London, admitted one offence of aggravated burglary.

Rrapi was sentenced to 13 years youth custody, Singh to 10 years youth custody and Uka to six years and eight months youth custody.

The court heard Uka had been in foster care since a traumatic separation from his family at the age of 14, and had numerous appeals against the refusal of asylum status rejected.

His last unsuccessful bid to remain in the UK was made just a few weeks before the raid.

Maidstone Crown Court heard wearing balaclavas, Chambers, Singh, Rrapi and two others lay in wait at the home in Dogwood Close, Northfleet, and then smashed their way in through a conservatory in the early hours of December 2 last year.

Prosecutor Patrick Dennis said the husband was awoken by a punch to the face. He was then repeatedly struck with a knuckle duster and a baseball bat and told he would be stabbed if he did not hand over the cash.

One of the gang threatened: “The Albanian will stab your kids if you don’t say where the money is.”

They went into a bedroom where his wife and two sons were sleeping. Singh was armed with an imitation firearm.

“They clearly knew there were goods to a high value in the property,” said Mr Dennis.

The husband had pyjama bottoms forced into his mouth, while his wife and sons were gagged with a towel or scarf. They were pistol whipped by Singh. Their feet were tied with belts and electrical wire.

In great fear, the husband and wife took them to a room where the money and jewellery of great sentimental value was kept. The gang then fled taking the CCTV unit with them.

They drove off in Chambers’ Honda CRV to Marden, where they burnt it out. They then travelled to Thornton Heath by taxi, before being arrested.

Judge Adele Williams said the house in the Northfleet aggravated burglary was deliberately targeted for significant sums of cash and jewellery.

She said of the victims: “Not only did you terrify them, you sought to humiliate them as well.

“It was a terrifying ordeal from which they are unsurprisingly struggling to recover.

“They are planning to move because they don’t feel safe in their own home any longer.

“You have caused them great distress which will be long term. You have caused great psychological harm.”

The judge told Chambers: “You are in my judgement a ruthless criminal. I am satisfied you pose a significant risk of causing serious harm and it is necessary to pass an extended sentence.

“You have expressed no real remorse and you have limited insight into your offending.”

Detective Constable Alan Poulton, the investigating officer, said: "This was a violent and incredibly terrifying burglary that has had a huge impact on the victims.

"These four offenders have made them feel vulnerable, and fearful, in their own home – a place where they should feel safe.

"This was a planned attack against innocent members of the public and shows these four men present a very real danger to society.

"Although this type of crime is extremely rare, members of the public should feel assured that Kent Police has the resources and expertise to relentlessly pursue offenders involved in organised crime and bring them to justice."