A PINNER man has been jailed for helping a violent gang conduct a terrifying raid on a family home.

Charles Antwi, of Exchange Road, gave his black Mercedes to the dangerous thugs which they used to threaten and attack the family for money.

Harrow Crown Court heard the sadistic mob used Antwi's car in the second of two burglaries at the victims' Barnet flat.

In the attack on August 17, 2005, Frank Agyeman, 31, Eric Damoa, 29, and Daniel Mooney, 29, and a fourth man tricked their way into the home of Sophia Ofusu-Asiedu and her 13-year-old-daughter, by pretending to work for the water board.

Inside Miss Ofusu-Asiedu and guest Yaw Adutwum were forced to lie on the ground and Yaw's hands were tied behind his back with a belt from his trousers.

The court heard that Damoa, who was armed with a silver handgun, pushed a cushion against Yaw's head and Sophia's back as if he was trying to silence a gun shot.

Damoa, still holding the gun, then led the 13-year-old girl around the flat looking for drugs and money at the instructions of Agyeman.

Neighbours called police after hearing the victims screaming.

Mooney, from Uxbridge, was seen escaping the area in Antwi's car and was arrested after a police chase which also involved a helicopter.

Soon after the second burglary Charles Antwi went to his local police station claiming his car had been stolen after leaving it outside a friend's house in Finchley.

He said he didn't know anything about the burglary but police disproved his claims and he changed his story, claiming he had been kidnapped and was in fear for his and his family's safety.

At Harrow Crown Court on Friday Antwi was jailed for two years after denying he had perverted the course of justice. He had previously been found not guilty of aggravated burglary.

In a previous attack on August 14, 2005, Damoa and another gang member Nigel Prescod, 26, of Constable Close, Golders Green, broke into the house with a set of stolen keys and waited for their victim to return.

Patricia Osei Assibey, Sofia's husband's Italian cousin, who was also staying at the flat, returned to the house where she was met by Damoa and Prescod.

The men grabbed her around the throat and smothered her mouth to keep her quiet, the court was told.

Clumps of her hair were ripped from her scalp during a 20 minute attack during which the men repeatedly asked her for money and threatened her with a knife.

Seizing an opportunity to escape she hurled herself out of the third storey flat rather than face her captors.

She suffered serious injuries in the attack which have left her permanently wheelchair bound.

Agyeman, of no fixed abode, and Damoa, of Rogers Road, Canning Town, were jailed for an indefinite period for public protection and must serve a minimum of seven years after being found guilty of aggravated burglary and false imprisonment, charges they denied.

Mooney, of The Chimes, Uxbridge, was jailed for seven years and ten months after he pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and false imprisonment.

Prescod, who gave evidence against his fellow gang members, was jailed for five years on January 15 for aggravated burglary and false imprisonment after admitting the offences.

After the sentencing chief superintendent Stephen Kavanagh said: "From the outset, the investigating officers were determined to solve this crime.

"Everyone involved felt very strongly that the victims deserved justice and, in particular, Patricia who has been left disabled for life.

"After a lengthy and often painstaking investigation, we are delighted with this outcome today."

Judge Alan Greenwood commended the professionalism of detective sergeant Gideon Mitchell, detective constable Matt Smith, and detective constable Mark Maxwell for their "professionalism and dedication in an exceptionally difficult case".

Police are also appealing for help in tracing 32-year-old Kenneth Ohene-Darko who officers want to speak to in connection with this enquiry.

His last known address was in Slough, Berkshire, and he is known to frequent east London.

Anyone who sees Ohene-Darko is advised not to approach him but to contact local police immediately.