Two vicious armed robbers who stole more than £50,000 during violent raids including Thomas Cook shops in Hythe and Sandwich have been jailed for a total of 27 years.

Luis Cristo, 20, formerly of Brixton, London and Jamal Joseph, 22, formerly of Streatham, London, both pleaded guilty at Canterbury Crown Court.

It came after the pair donned balaclavas and threatened staff - one seven months pregnant - with a handgun in Thomas Cook in Sandwich on December 10 last year.

They assaulted them both and demanded cash before fleeing from the King Street branch with £20,000 in cash from the safe.

Before leaving they locked the workers in the toilet.

Then, four days later, the pair threatened staff with a handgun at Thomas Cooks in Hythe high street at around 11.40am.

Two customers and one staff member were then tied up with duct tape before the robbers threatened to kill one worker as she opened the safe and stole almost £9,000 in euros and South African Rand.

The raiders also got away with £26,000 from a raid in Hove, East Sussex and a further £1,200 from a robbery at a Money Shop store in Barnet, north London.

Investigations by the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate linked Cristo and Joseph to the robberies, and Cristo was arrested on board a plane leaving for Portugal at Gatwick Aiport on New Year's Eve.

His luggage was seized and Euros and a large number of travellers cheques were seized – the serial numbers matching those stolen from the travel agents in Hove.

More travellers cheques from the Hove store were found at his home address in Brixton.

"Cristo and Joseph subjected their victims to horrendous, and often violent ordeals, as they sought to take what was not rightfully theirs" - Det Con Tom Wilson

Joseph was arrested on February 7 this year in West Norwood, London.

Earlier today, Cristo was sentenced to 15 years and Joseph to 12 years.

Speaking after the sentencing, investigating officer Detective Constable Tom Wilson said: "Cristo and Joseph subjected their victims to horrendous, and often violent ordeals, as they sought to take what was not rightfully theirs.

"They used a handgun and the fear of violence and death to steal money which they would then spend on expensive clothes and a holiday.

"I’m pleased they have been brought to justice for their crimes and this sends out a clear message that crime does not pay and I would like to pay tribute to those victims for their courage in giving evidence and the officers who worked thoroughly on the investigation."