A gang of thieves who targeted London's rich and famous has been put behind bars for more than 50 years.

The thugs preyed on wealthy tycoons and bankers, and Formula 1 racing boss Bernie Ecclestone is believed to have been one of their 30 victims. The 82-year-old billionaire was beaten unconscious and robbed of $320,000 (£200,000) worth of jewellery outside his home in November 2010.

Gulam Gani, 47, Nicholas Lewis, 34, and Shaun Wallace, 30, were branded "hardened criminals" who showed "not a scintilla of remorse" as they were jailed for a total of 53 years at Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday (12Dec12).

Sentencing the men, Judge Martin Beddoe said, "I have no doubt, given the opportunity, unless age or infirmity, you three will all probably carry on doing this sort of thing again."

However, the trio was not prosecuted for the attack on Ecclestone due to a lack of evidence.

Sir Nigel Rudd, chairman of the British Airport Authority, and banker Elizabeth Kaye were also allegedly set upon by the gang.