A gang of cashpoint robbers thought to have tricked 100 people out of their bank cards have been jailed.

The four men queued behind their victims then fooled them into bending down by telling them they had dropped bank notes on the floor.

They then lunged forward to steal their cards and drew hundreds of pounds in cash from their accounts before they could contact their bank.

The gang were jailed on Friday after they all admitted conspiracy to steal at cashpoints in Holborn, central London.

Costel Tanase, 30, of Faircross Avenue, Barking, was sentenced to three years and handed a 10-year Asbo banning him from coming within the M25 at Blackfriars Crown Court.

Costel Paiu, 28, formerly of Barking, was also jailed for three years and given a similar 10-year Asbo.

He previously lived in Faircross Avenue but became homeless.

Gheorghe Juverdeanu, 32, of Lordship Lane, Tottenham, was also given three years imprisonment and a similar 10-year Asbo.

Eugene Todea, 24, of Lordship Lane, Tottenham, was given two years imprisonment and the same 10-year Asbo.

A Met police spokesman said: “The four men are believed to have been involved in about 100 similar offences occurring in the Holborn area.”