Robbers who targeted two newsagents in one afternoon and threatening a shopkeeper with a screw driver, have been jailed.

Seamus Dyson and Frankie Whittington stole a large amount of cash after threatening the Meopham shop worker with the pointed tool on Tuesday, April 2 - 90 minutes after a failed robbery at a newsagent in East Sussex.

Both men admitted their roles and were sentenced at Lewes Crown Court.

The court heard Dyson and Whittington entered a newsagent in Wrotham Road, Meopham, shortly before 4.30pm and immediately threatened a member of staff with a screwdriver before ordering him to hand over the money in the till.

After grabbing a small amount of cash, they then ordered the employee to open the shop’s safe.

Once the money was handed over, they ran away from the scene before driving away in a silver Peugeot 208.

Around an hour-and-a-half earlier both offenders attempted to commit a similar robbery at a newsagent in Station Road, Groombridge, near the Kent and East Sussex border, however they fled when they heard the shop alarm.

Officers reviewed CCTV from both incidents and it quickly became apparent the same offenders were involved.

The same clothing was worn on both occasions and the same car was seen travelling to both locations.

Although the offenders covered their faces while committing the crimes, privately held CCTV captured both men walking in Wrotham Road with their faces uncovered.

A police officer, who had had previous dealings with Dyson, immediately identified him and he was located at an address in Strood two days later.

When Dyson was arrested, pairs of gloves worn by both offenders were found at the property he was staying. A car key for the Peugeot 208 was also found at the address along with a quantity of cash.

Whittington was located at his home address on the same day.

Dyson, 19 and of Peall Road, Croydon, pleaded guilty to robbery and attempted robbery. He was sentenced to two and a half years.

Whittington, 19 and of Wilson Avenue in Brighton, pleaded guilty to robbery and attempted robbery.

He was jailed for three years for the offences.

He will also serve an additional year in custody for unrelated offences committed in Sussex.

DC Rebecca Ward, Kent Police’s investigating officer for the case, said: "These two men have shown they are prepared to use violence against innocent members of the public for their own gain.

"The victims of this case had every reason to fear their lives were in immediate danger and I am pleased that the custodial sentences imposed means they are unable to target other people in a similar way."

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