A TEEN who was convicted of killing a man while he slept in his car has had his sentence extended for his role in a series of knifepoint moped robberies.

The 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was convicted of the manslaughter of Vilson Meshi, 30, who was killed while he slept in the back of his Audi A4 in Pitsea in February last year.

The boy and Keani Hobbs, 18, of Stagden Cross, Pitsea, threw a marine distress flare into the back of the car and Mr Meshi’s body was found the next day.

The pair denied manslaughter and theft but were convicted by a jury at Chelmsford Crown Court.

Hobbs was locked up for nine years, while the boy was jailed for a total of six years.

But the 16-year-old now faces longer behind bars as he was one of four teens found guilty of committing a string of robberies on mopeds last week.

They have been collectively sentenced to more than 13 years in prison.

The 16-year-old was given a three-and-a-half year jail term after he was found guilty of conspiracy to rob, which will be served on top of the sentence he is currently in prison for.

During the robbery spree, phones, wallets, handbags and laptops were stolen with threats of violence and on some occasions a knife was used.

Six scooters were also stolen by the group with four of those taken from their owners by force.

The court heard how the robberies and attempted robberies took place between December 2, 2016 and March 9, 2017.

The gang were caught by detectives from the Met’s South Area Venice Investigation Team.

Following a robbery on March 9, officers were able to use CCTV to track the gang’s route to Kendal Close, Lambeth where the stolen vehicles were parked.

A warrant was issued for a 16-year-old boy and a search of his bedroom uncovered an Oyster card from a robbery on March 6.

He was arrested on his return to the address.

His phone was seized, which revealed pictures of his accomplices wearing masks and clothes described by victims in the crimes.

There was also an image of a masked person in his bedroom holding a knife.

His DNA was also discovered on a scooter recovered after a theft in January.

Detective Constable Adam Barry warned people to continue to remain vigilant to protect themselves and their belongings.

He said: “Police are working hard to keep the public safe and make the streets hostile territory for criminals who steal scooters, mopeds or motorbikes and then use them to commit crimes.

“These offenders rely on the unwariness of the public to commit their crimes.

“Therefore it is so important that the public remain vigilant at all times to protect their personal property.

“If anyone sees any suspicious activity or has any information about who is committing these crimes, please call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”