A GANG of robbers whose getaway chase led to the death of a former Dagenham police officer are facing years behind bars. PC Gary Toms, 37, was knocked down and killed after he got out of a police vehicle to chase the raiders on foot. The officer, from the

A GANG of robbers whose getaway chase led to the death of a former Dagenham police officer are facing years behind bars.

PC Gary Toms, 37, was knocked down and killed after he got out of a police vehicle to chase the raiders on foot.

The officer, from the CO19 firearms squad, suffered serious head injuries when the robber's Chrysler PT Cruiser sped off.

His life support machine was switched off days later.

PC Toms and other armed officers were pursuing getaway driver Temitope Iyiola, 20, who jumped red traffic lights as he raced at speeds of more than 70mph through residential streets.

But the silver Chrysler - fraudulently obtained by Iyiola days earlier - was eventually cornered by squad cars in Leyton.

A police investigation found it could not proved that Iyiola was 'sufficiently responsible' for causing the death of PC Toms by dangerous driving. Iyiola later admitted dangerous driving.

The gang had robbed the Dagenham home of nightclub boss Onyedika Chukwuma and were speeding away from the scene, the trial heard.

Swedish national Mansour-Jacques Jallow, 26, and his UK-based cousin Mary Fowler, 21, had enjoyed a night out in Canning Town with Mr Chukwuma to gain his trust.

Their gang then ransacked his house, but failed to find any money, instead stealing his laptop, camcorder and wallet.

Iyiola ferried Jallow and Fowler in the Chrysler, which also later collided head-on with another police car causing two officers minor injuries.

The trio were arrested but several other robbers have never been traced.

Jallow admitted the April 11 robbery before the trial and did not appear before the jury.

But he will join Iyiola, Fowler and Anti-Taylor who were remanded in custody until December 2 for sentencing.

Jallow, of Prince Regent Lane, Canning Town, admitted robbery while Iyiola, of Studley Road, Upton Park, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and fraudulently obtaining the Chrysler car.

But Iyiola, Anti-Taylor, of Oak Lodge Avenue, Chigwell, and Fowler, of Ibex House, Forest Lane, Stratford, were all convicted of robbery, which they denied.

PC Toms' widow was too upset to comment following the trial.