Two men who shot at security guards depositing money into cash machines at a supermarket have been jailed.

Karl Lawrence, from Chatham, and his pal Tony Turner denied the raid at Tesco in Clacton, Essex, but were convicted by a jury after the pair were put on trial.

Lawrence, 32, and Turner, 39, wore masks and threatened the staff with a gun, demanding they handover cash during the ordeal at the supermarket on January 18, 2017.

Two shots were fired but the bullets were blanks.

Despite continued threats, staff managed to escape their attackers but the barrel of the gun became trapped between doors dividing the workers and the two men.

Another shot was fired but there was no injury or damaged caused and Lawrence and Turner left empty handed.

Witnesses saw the pair flee the store at Brook Retail Park in a silver Volvo.

The car was later located and found to have been stolen from a dealership in Crawley, West Sussex, a few weeks earlier.

Forensic investigations found DNA belonging to both men inside the vehicle and further investigations of CCTV, number plate recognition and mobile phone records tracked down Lawrence and Turner.

The pair were ordered to appear at Colchester Magistrates' Court last August but Lawrence, of Walderslade Road, Chatham, failed to show up. He was found and arrested in the town four months later.

Lawrence – who later changed his name to Thomas Knight – and Turner were charged with attempted robbery and possession of an imitation firearm.

The pair were convicted in February following their trial at Chelmsford Crown Court.

Yesterday, they were jailed for a combined total of 32 years in prison – Lawrence for 14 years with a further four years on licence for possessing an imitation firearm.

Turner, of no fixed address, received 18 years and was also ordered to serve an additional four years on licence for attempted robbery and six years on licence for having an imitation firearm, to run alongside each other.

Investigating officer Det Sgt Sarah Winn from Essex Police said: "This was a very distressing experience for the two security officers and I would like to again commend their bravery.

"Turner and Lawrence went to extreme lengths to threaten the two men. They took a gun with them to intimidate the security officers and scare them into handing over a substantial sum of money.

"The victims didn't know the gun had blank bullets and to them, the threat to their lives was very real.

"I'm delighted that the jury listened to the evidence presented, understood the severity of the crime and convicted these two individuals who are now paying the price for their actions."

To read more of our in depth coverage of all of the major trials coming out of crown and magistrates' courts across the county, click here.

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