A GANG of youths who launched a terrifying attack on a family in their home were caught and jailed thanks to the bravery of a 14-year-old boy.

Joshua Cuby hid his younger brother Samuel in a cupboard and called police on his mobile phone as six youths downstairs threatened to shoot his mother Brenda.

The gang, armed with an imitation pistol, had forced their way through the front door of the six-bedroom home in Vineyards Road, Northaw after Mrs Cuby had answered the door to two smartly-dressed teenagers on December 23, 2006.

Jake McLean, 18, of Herriot Avenue, Chingford and Chloe Doltis, 18, of Horns Road, Ilford, pretended to be from an estate agent as the million-pound home was on the market.

The 36-year-old mother, grappled from behind in front of her screaming seven-year-old daughter, was told she would be killed if she did not give them the key to the safe.

Mother and daughter were forced into an upstairs bedroom, where they were joined by their two sons as their home was ransacked by the gang.

They pointed the gun directly at Joshua, who unknown to them had already called police.

McLean, Dario Wokorach, 17, of Copperbeech, Ilford and Tristan Harriette were arrested as they fled the scene on foot, but Courtney Mitchell, 17, of Clandon Road, Ilford sped off in a green Jaguar with Doltis and Dalton Lawal, 18, of Second Avenue, Dahenham.

After a high-speed chase they crashed into a parked car in Potters Bar and were arrested.

Doltis had visited the house on pretexts twice before on reconnaissance.

The six were all sentenced to aggravated burglary at St Albans Crown Court this week after Doltis and Harriette, 18, of Park Lane, Romford had been convicted at a trial, and guilty pleas from the other four.

Announcing sentences of between three years, seven months and five years with an extended licence period, Judge Stephen Warner told them: "This was a planned and deliberate aggravated burglary.

"It was a frightening ordeal to which you subjected Mrs Cuby and her three children."

After the hearing , Mrs Cuby's husband Joe, who appeared in the 1960s television series The Prisoner, said: "Joshua was very quick-thinking I am very proud of him.

"We are particularly worried about Samuel who has been suffering from very bad asthma attacks since this happened."

He praised police, and said he hoped the gang could rebuild their lives after their prison terms.