TWO brothers have admitted going on a two-month armed robbery rampage of bookies across north London.

Nelson Muzinga, 23, and his teenage brother Ivo Muzinga, 18, covered their faces before bursting in to bookies, threatening staff with imitation handguns and fleeing with large sums of cash.

On March 14 the pair carried out an armed raid on Coral, in Topsfield Parade, Crouch End, and an attempted robbery of William Hill, in West Green Road, Tottenham, and on the same day also robbed two bookies in Islington.

Just seven days later, the brothers carried out two further raids, in Enfield and Waltham Cross, again armed with imitation weapons and wearing masks.

The pair, from Edmonton, became so notorious to police that officers set up a specific operation, codenamed Catchwater, to snare them, and eventually arrested them on June 18.

When faced with their crimes at Wood Green Crown Court on August 21, the brothers pleaded guilty and confessed to three further armed raids carried out in February. Ivo Muzinga also asked for two other armed robberies, again carried out in February, to be taken into consideration.

In one instance in February, the brothers raided a Coral bookies in Enfield just 15 minutes walk from their home, and brazenly returned exactly a month later to try to rob it again.

The brothers are expected to be sentenced for their crimes later this month.

Despite the success of Operation Catchwater, police are still hunting for a third man suspected of helping the Muzingas carried out their robbery spree.

Detective Inspector David Malcolm, who led the team of officers who snared the robbers, said: "The Muzinga brothers terrified the staff and customers they encountered as they raided bookmakers with handguns.

“The weapons were often pointed straight at the victims to ensure the maximum amount of money was handed over.

"Robberies of this nature are a priority for the Flying Squad and the conviction of these men demonstrates the Met's continued commitment to bringing such dangerous criminals to justice."

He appealed for anyone with information on the mystery third man to call the incident room on 0208 358 1751 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.