A GANG of thieves is today behind bars for a series of raids on massage parlours across Hampshire.

Two of the men were also sentenced for their part in a “gangland dispute”

which saw a Southampton man’s front door peppered with bullet holes from a sawn-off shotgun during a drive-by shooting.

Sentencing them to a total of 15 years Judge Peter Henry said their victims were “vulnerable” and had been left “extremely frightened” by the violent raids which involved a meat cleaver and imitation hand gun.

The gang first struck at a massage parlour in Captain’s Place, Southampton.

Two Chinese women opened the door to three men who then kicked the door down and pushed their way inside.

Matthew Lang, 21, held a meat cleaver to the neck of one of the women who were also slapped before £380 in cash and jewellery was stolen in the raid in July 2008.

Eight days later Lang was joined by Joseph Flaherty, 22, and Nathan Jennings, 18 in a raid on a second Thai massage parlour in Botley Road with an imitation firearm.

Around £300 in cash was taken before the men fled. Following the raid Jennings admitted waving the imitation gun out of a car window at a man who had confronted them for loitering at Park View Mansions, Southampton.

Flaherty and Lang were then caught raiding a massage parlour in Totton called Forbidden Desires.

They fled with just £20 and a purse.

They unsuccessfully targeted a parlour in Romsey Road, Southampton, before making their way to a premises at Howard Road, Shirley.

Here the gang took a cash box and were involved in a scuffle with a man before taking a purse and £180 in cash.

In a separate incident Liam Williams, 22, and Jennings drove a stolen Vauxhall Corsa to the home of a man in Addison Road, Sarisbury Green. It is understood they held a grudge against the man and fired at his front door leaving it riddled with bullet holes.

Police later found the car with the firearm still inside.

They tracked the pair down using DNA evidence. Judge Henry sitting at Portsmouth Crown Court said he had no doubt someone would have been injured had they been behind the door when the shotgun was fired. Pellets were found down the hallway.

He added that it was “quite clear” the massage parlours were targeted as they were vulnerable institutions with a significant amount of cash on the premises.

Nathan Jennings, 18, of Laburnum Road, Swaythling, pleaded guilty to two burglaries and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. He was sentenced to a total of five years in a young offenders institution.

Liam Williams, 22, of Primrose Road, Southampton, denied the charge of possessing of a sawn-off shotgun, but was convicted by a jury. He was sentenced to five years in prison.

Matthew Lang, 22, Laburnum Road, Southampton pleaded guilty to four burglaries and received a three-year prison term.

Joseph Flaherty, 22, a former chef, also of Laburnum Road, pleaded guilty to attempted burglary and three other burglaries.

He was given a two-year sentence.