Two men from Ramsgate have been jailed after they robbed women working as escorts at gun point.

Mitch Alexander Jarvis, 24, of Martins Close, and Saul Powell, 24 of Dundonald Road, met up with Barbara Ann Edwards, 51, of Guest Avenue, Poole to carry out the offence in Dorset.

The pair from Thanet were sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court yesterday after they previously pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery, attempted robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery and possession of an imitation firearm.

The court heard that the first incident happened on Friday, March 18, 2016 at an address in the Old Christchurch Road area of Bournemouth.

The victim, a woman in her 20s, received a phone call from a man wanting to book an appointment.

Shortly before 11pm Jarvis arrived and he was let in to the flat.

Jarvis confronted the victim with a handgun, grabbed her tightly around the throat and placed her into a headlock.

He pushed the gun into the back of her neck and demanded money. The victim said she did not have any money and Jarvis left empty handed.

The second incident happened at around 2pm the next day in Alder Road, Poole.

Again, a woman in her 20s was expecting a client and answered the door to Jarvis. Placing her in a headlock, he forced her in to the living room. Powell then entered holding a gun.

The victim’s wrists were bound with cable ties and gaffer tape was placed over her mouth.

Jarvis and Powell ransacked the flat for around two hours before one left with a gym bag full of her belongings.

The other man stayed with the victim for a further 30 minutes before he cut the cable ties and left.

Cash, an iPhone, an Apple Macbook and a number of items of jewellery were taken.

A third offence happened at an address in Canterbury on Monday, February 22, 2016 when Powell and Jarvis robbed another woman working as an escort at knifepoint.

They stole cash and an iPhone, threatening to do the same to her family if she called police.

The court was told Powell and Jarvis conspired with Edwards, who also worked as an escort, to commit the offences.

'I would like to pay tribute to the victims for having the confidence in Dorset Police to come forward and report the offences' - Sergeant Catie Holmes

A list was found at Powell’s home which contained a second phone number for Edwards. Lists were also found at Edwards' and Powell’s homes containing the names of two of the victims.

Sergeant Catie Holmes of Bournemouth CID said: "Saul Powell, Mitch Jarvis and Barbara Edwards conspired to commit these robberies and target vulnerable women.

"I would like to pay tribute to the victims for having the confidence in Dorset Police to come forward and report the offences."

Both Jarvis and Powell were given extended sentences of 17-and-a-half years made up of 13 years and six months in prison, of which they must serve two-thirds before being considered for parole.

Once they are released they will be on licence for four years.

Edwards was found guilty of two counts of robbery, attempted robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery and possession of an imitation firearm and given a 10-year prison sentence.