A quick-thinking teenager hid his ten-year-old brother in a cupboard and dialled 999 as an armed gang burst into their home and threatened to shoot their mother.

Joshua Cuby, 14, was upstairs with his brother, Sam, when he heard the gang attacking his mother downstairs in the six-bedroom home close to Northaw, near Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, in December 2006. Two members of the gang knocked on the door pretending to be from an estate agent, but when Brenda Cuby, 36, became suspicious one man threatened her with an imitation Beretta pistol.

Michael Speak, for the prosecution, told St Albans Crown Court: “Mrs Cuby flailed about and tried to kick him. She screamed and he twice put his hand over her mouth.”

Mrs Cuby’s husband, Joe, a former actor in The Prisoner, was out and she did not know that the police were on their way as the gang demanded to know where the safe was. The gunman - who was not identified - said: “I am not going to hurt you, but I will if you don’t stop screaming.” Another member of the gang said: “Be quiet or I will kill you.”

Mrs Cuby and her seven-year-old daughter, Gabby, were marched upstairs into the main bedroom. A pillow was put over Mrs Cuby’s face and the gun was cocked as the gang demanded to know where the safe was. She told them that she did not know. Her two sons appeared and, as Sam started to have an asthma attack, Mrs Cuby berated the gang and said: “How dare you put my sons through this?”

When they found the safe Mrs Cuby said that she did not know where the keys were. Joshua then had the gun pointed at him. He said: “Oh s**t. He has got a gun, he is going to kill us.” The gunman said: “You see, your mother doesn’t care. She is going to let me shoot you.”

Mr Speak praised Joshua’s bravery. “He hid his smaller brother in a large wardrobe and then had the presence of mind to call 999 on a mobile phone. The emergency operator was non-plussed. She was dealing with a very frightened young boy.”

Judge Stephen Warner told the defendants: “It was a frightening ordeal to which you subjected Mrs Cuby and her children. Mrs Cuby acted with great courage and Joshua showed he was a very resourceful young man.”

After the case Mr Cuby, 62, said that it had been traumatic for his family and they had since moved. Praising Joshua, he said: “He was very quick-thinking. I am very proud of him.”

Three of the defendants, Jake McLean, 18, Dario Wokorach, 17, and Tristan Harriette, 18, were arrested as they tried to escape.

A fourth, Courtney Mitchell, 17, drove off with Chloe Doltis, 18, and Dalton Lawal, 18, in a green Jaguar, chased by police. Mitchell drove at high speed before he crashed into a parked vehicle.

The gang, all from East London, were each charged with aggravated burglary. Doltis and Harriette were found guilty after a trial. The other four pleaded guilty. Mitchell also admitted dangerous driving.

Judge Stephen Warner lifted reporting restrictions on the defendants who were aged 17, saying that they had “pleaded guilty to serious matters”.

Doltis was sentenced to four years, six months, Harriette to five years with an extended sentence; Lawal received four years, McLean three years, seven months, Mitchell four years, four months, and Wokorach four years, five months with an extended sentence.

Times Recommends

• How I lost the gift of joy for a while
• Why Ann Widdecombe has got it wrong
• Alas, it’s the end of the road for petrolheads