Two robbers left a woman member of staff terrified after raiding a Thanet bookies armed with a machete-type weapon.

Stephen Line and pal Liam Barry burst into the King Street branch of Corals in King Street, Ramsgate in August brandishing the weapon, and fled with nearly £600 in takings.

Judge Simon James told 26-year-old Line: “You with Barry, who was hooded and masked, entered the bookmakers and threatened the staff with a knife.

"It was captured on close-circuit television which captured Barry jumping on and then over the counter and then gesticulating with a large machete-type blade towards a member of staff who, understandably was terrified before handing over the day takings."

He said the footage also showed Line there at the scene and talking with Barry for some time prior to the robbery - which the jury decided was him encouraging his partner to commit the offence.

"You knew full well what was to happen and you were part of the plan to rob."

Line, of West Dumpton Lane, Ramsgate was found guilty of the robbery but admitted two burglaries, including taking cash and also a charity box, and was jailed for a total of five years.

He admitted raiding a garage in Ramsgate and an Aldi Store in Boundary Road, Ramsgate when he stole bottle of booze in August

Canterbury Crown Court heard how his pal Barry, 20, who now lives in Norwich, wore a mask and a hood during the knifepoint robbery.

He was sent to a Young Offender’s Institute for two and a half years after he admitted taking part in the raid.

The judge told him: “I am prepared to accept that you were, to a degree, exploited by others who are more criminally sophisticated and were pressurised to become involved against your better judgement

“But anyone who arms themselves in order to rob must face an immediate sentence of custody.”

Joshua Chambers, 24, of Trove Court, Newcastle Hill, Ramsgate was given a year’s jail sentence for taking part in breaking into a garage with Line in Margate Road, Ramsgate in August.