Three men have been jailed for stealing £25,000 from a security van driver in Chatham.

Gabriel Shodunke, Caniggia Jarrett and William Karungaire were sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court after being charged with robbery.

Jarrett of no fixed address and Karungaire of Dorset Road, South Lambeth, pleaded guilty to the charges. Jarrett, aged 24, was jailed for three years and four months and Karungaire, aged 21, was jailed for three years and seven months.

Shodunke, also of Dorset Road, South Lambeth, was found guilty by a jury and was sentenced to four years and six months in prison.

The trio were each charged with one count of robbery following an incident outside HSBC bank in Walderslade Road, Chatham, at around 9.30am on the morning of Tuesday 29 December 2015.

The court heard how a security van driver had arrived at the bank to drop off money and was locking up his van when he was approached from behind by Karungaire who then tried to grab the cashbox.

Karungaire started to punch the van driver and eventually forced the cash box away. At this point Jarrett, who was also there, started to assault the driver before the pair ran off.

At around 9.47am two police officers were on duty driving along London bound on the A2 near to Danson Interchange, Bexley, when a car in front of them collided with a road sign.

Jarrett was seen running away from the car carrying a bag which he was seen to throw away before climbing over a garden fence. This bag was later recovered and contained £25,000 in cash. The bag was marked ‘HSBC’.

Officers continued to look for Jarrett and he was found with a second man. Upon seeing officers the pair ran away. Officers continued to patrol the area and found Jarrett who was seen on top of a garage roof near Woodside Lane, Bexley.

Jarrett was arrested by police and the investigation found his fingerprints inside the damaged car. DNA also matched Karungaire to the vehicle.

During the investigation officers found that on the morning of the robbery the pair had received several phone calls from a landline registered to Shodunke’s home address.

His mobile phone was also found to have been used at 9.25am around 160 metres from where the robbery took place and later on near to where Jarrett was arrested.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable, Alan Poulton, said: "Jarrett and Karungaire showed no remorse for their actions which would have been a frightening experience for the van driver.

"Shodunke may not have had physical involvement in stealing the cashbox but he was very much involved in helping to execute this crime and he denied his involvement throughout the case.

"I’m pleased that a jury found him guilty and that all three men have received lengthy prison sentences."