Two robbers have been locked up after admitting carrying out a terrifying knifepoint raid at a shop in Dartford.

James Harris, 22 and Bradley Hughes, 24 wore hoods to disguise themselves during the raid at the convenience store in Fleet Avenue, in June.

Bradishing a knife, Harris, of Olive Road Dartford, entered the shop and demanded the shopkeeper, Sellarhurai Anantharajah, hand over money from the till.

The frightened man picked up a hockey bat to defend himself but Hughes, of Hesketh Avenue, Dartford, wrestled it off him and Harris then held the knife up to the man’s throat, demanding he hand over some cash, Maidstone Crown Court heard.

Steven Attridge, prosecuting, told the court the pair then made off with £150 and a bottle of Jack Daniels.

Mr Anantharajah’s daughter had been in the store at the time delivering some food to her father.

Mr Attridge also told the court both men had been on suspended sentences when they committed the robbery.

Harris originally pleaded not guilty to robbery and having an offensive weapon, the knife, but changed his pleas to guilty while in the dock this week.

Hughes admitted one count of robbery at an earlier hearing and both were sentenced, with Hughes also sentenced over two shoplifting matters.

Mary Jacobson, defending Hughes, said he made full and frank admissions when he was interviewed.

She added: “He has no excuse. He accepts what he did was entirely wrong.”

Judge Richard Polden also heard Hughes was in breach of a suspend sentence he’d been previously given for falsifying tax returns.

The court heard he had been thrown out of the family home after a disagreement with his father and found himself unemployed and homeless.

Jonas Milner, for Harris, said his client had no excuse for committing the robbery.

Mr Milner said: “He has no sob story for carrying out this horrible offence.

“He is a heroin addict and was not in his right mind. He has deep regrets and would like to apologise to the victim. He is ashamed of himself.”

Judge Polden said: “These offences are so serious. You robbed a shopkeeper who was providing a good service to the community and It was a frightening experience and you had your hoods up.”

Hughes was jailed for four years and two months for the robbery, but will serve an extra six months because he was in breach of a suspended sentence he’d previously been given.

Harris was jailed four years and nine months for the robbery, and was given six months for possession of the knife, to run concurrently.

However, he too will also serve an extra 12 weeks on top as his suspended sentence was also activated.