FIVE men – four from Littleport - are due to be sentenced today for their parts in a string of armed robberies. James Curtis, 47, his sons James Walter Curtis, 25 and 17-year-old Mark Curtis all pleaded guilty to carrying out a string of armed robberies i

FIVE men - four from Littleport - are due to be sentenced today for their parts in a string of armed robberies.

James Curtis, 47, his sons James Walter Curtis, 25 and 17-year-old Mark Curtis all pleaded guilty to carrying out a string of armed robberies in isolated rural locations across the Fens and Norfolk.

A post office, isolated Fen homes and even a bowls club were targeted in their raids. The closest robbery took place at Southery - just seven miles from the mens' home.

The Curtis family, who live at Millfield, are well known in the traveller community, and when appearing in court, their father James senior gave his address as a well known caravan site between Sheringham and Cromer.

Stanley Rainford, 48, of Friar's Place, Littleport also took part in some of the robberies, alongside Charles Lee, 44, who is from Great Gidding, Huntingdonshire.

The men, who have been remanded in custody, will come before the judge at Norwich Crown Court.

The maximum sentence for armed robbery is life in prison.