TEN violent robberies - by two men from Oldham and a teenager - have seen them jailed for more than 12 years in total.

Nine of the attacks by Adi-Ionut Cretu and Samuel Cretu were in Manchester city centre, a court was told.

And the remaining robbery took place in Oldham, as the net closed in on the pair.

The two cousins and the youngster were snared as part of Operation Valiant, launched by detectives in the wake of similar personal attacks.

Adi-Ionu Cretu, 21, and Samuel Cretu, also 21, and both of Ashton Road, Oldham, were each convicted of conspiracy to rob, assaults and conspiracy to commit fraud.

At Manchester Crown Court, Adi-Ioni was jailed for six years and two months and Samuel was caged for six years and eight months.

The youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was given a two-year youth rehabilitation order for the same offences.

The court heard how one robbery saw a 31-year old man, walking through Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester city centre, approached by the group and subject to a frenzied attack of punches and kicks which knocked him unconscious.

Police say that following this vicious assault, the group made off with his mobile phone and wallet which contained his driving licence and bank cards.

Another occasion saw a 32-year old man being approached by Adi-Ionut Cretu and the 15-year-old boy while Samuel Cretu loitered behind.

The pair tried to take the victim’s phone from out of his pocket. He tried to walk away but was approached by Samuel Cretu who punched him in the jaw.

Detectives say that following this assault, all three of the trio began to attack the victim, punching him in the head until he fell to the floor, where they then proceeded to kick and punch him until he lost consciousness. As a result of this attack, the victim was left with a fractured spine and the trio fled with his mobile phone.

The court was told of a third robbery, where a 23-year-old woman and her two friends were walking down Tib Street when they were joined by the group of offenders, who walked alongside them, engaging in their conversation.

Adi-Ionut Cretu snatched the victim’s bag from her shoulder, ripping off her thumbnail in the process. He opened the bag and removed cash before the victim’s friend grabbed the bag back from him. Then Adi-Ionut Cretu grabbed the victim’s mobile phone from out of her hand and the group ran off.

The victim’s other friend – a 24-year-old man – proceeded to chase the group and managed to retrieve the phone. However, during this retrieval, he was knocked to the ground and kicked in the chest by Adi-Ionut Cretu.

Det Sgt Helen Fletcher, from GMP’s Operation Valiant team, said: “These are three vicious individuals whose greed showed no limits as they savagely attacked innocent members of the public for their own selfish gain.

“It’s important not to underestimate the severity of these crimes, and I would like to thank our officers along with the CPS and the bravery of the victims who have been working tirelessly as part of Operation Valiant to bring these offenders to justice.

"I can only hope that today’s result gives these individuals the time they need to reflect upon their actions and acts as a warning that this type of criminal behaviour will absolutely not be tolerated in Greater Manchester and Operation Valiant will continue to target those who think it’s acceptable to commit violent street robberies.”