Two men have been locked up after attempting to rob an armoured van in Tunbridge Wells.

David Kirby and Sam Carlton threatened the driver of a cash-in-transit van with a weapon as he collected money from premises in Fordcombe Road.

The men escaped in a red Volkswagen Polo - which was driven by Kirby - with a cash box containing more than £12,000, pursued by the Met Police's Flying Squad.

The car was spotted by patrols from another force but failed to stop. The pursuit came to an abrupt halt in nearby Manor Road in Rusthall after the car crashed into a front garden.

The cash box was found on a nearby verge, discarded as the two offenders fled the scene.

Kirby was brought down with a taser and arrested in Erskine Park Road and Carlton was collared after being spotted hiding in a wheelie bin in a back garden by the National Police Air Service (NPAS) helicopter.

Carlton was involved in a similar attempt to steal a cash box from a transit driver in May.

"The nature of the offending shows both men to be dangerous individuals and it is pleasing that our investigation, which was supported by the Metropolitan Police, has secured these sentences" - Det Insp Gary Scarfe

This offence took place in Lowfield Street, Dartford, and again saw a man wearing a balaclava threaten a guard as he walked to his van.

On this occasion the victim ran into a nearby store and no items were taken.

Kirby, 40 and formerly of no fixed address, was sentenced to four years imprisonment for the robbery in Tunbridge Wells. He had previously pleaded not guilty to the offence and was also disqualified from driving for five years.

Carlton, 31 and previously of no fixed address, was sentenced to four years and eight months imprisonment for the robbery in Tunbridge Wells and the attempted robbery in Dartford. He pleaded not guilty to both offences.

They were both sentenced at Croydon Crown Court earlier this month.

Detective Inspector Gary Scarfe said: "Both offences were brazen and took place in very public places, which must have been traumatic for both the victim and other people in the area.

"The nature of the offending shows both men to be dangerous individuals and it is pleasing that our investigation, which was supported by the Metropolitan Police, has secured these sentences."