Two masked men threatened cash delivery workers with a gun and demanded cash as they tried to rob them at a supermarket.

Karl Lawrence, of Walderslade Road, Chatham, and his accomplice Tony Turner fired blanks between two officers while trying to rob a Tesco in Clacton, Essex.

Lawrence – who has changed his name to Thomas Knight – and Turner threatened workers delivering cash with a gun and demanded they hand over the money, which was being put into nearby cash machines.

Security staff moved away, and the barrel of the gun was temporarily trapped between two doors. It was discharged again but didn't cause injury.

The two men left empty handed following the incident on January 18, 2017.

They were seen by witnesses driving away in a silver Volvo, which was later recovered by police.

After examining the car, which had been stolen from a car dealership in Crawley, officers identified DNA profiles belonging to Lawrence and Turner.

The pair were summoned to appear at Colchester Magistrates' Court on August 6, 2019.

Lawrence, 32, failed to appear and was arrested in Chatham on November 14.

Lawrence and Turner, 39, of no fixed address, denied attempted robbery and having a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence, but were found guilty at Chelmsford Crown Court yesterday.

Investigating officer, detective sergeant Sarah Winn, said: "This was a very distressing experience for the two security officers and I 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."

Turner and Lawrence have been remanded in custody and will appeal at Chelmsford Crown Court for sentencing the week commencing Monday, April 13.

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