Twin brothers who robbed a bookmakers at gunpoint have been jailed on their 30th birthdays - after an ill-fitting balaclava gave away their identity.

,Ben and Luke Twyman targeted a Coral bookmakers in Newington Road, Ramsgate, threatening staff with a handgun and stealing hundreds of pounds one the afternoon in February.

But a baggy balaclava worn by one of the brothers meant staff could see his face and recognised him as a regular customer who had been in the bookies earlier that day to place a bet.

Officers quickly identified the culprits and, within an hour of the robbery, found the Twyman brothers who had gone to a pub in Margate town centre to count their stolen cash.

Armed officers attended the premises and promptly arrested Luke Twyman of Lancaster Close, Ramsgate, as he stepped outside for a cigarette.

Although his twin managed to leave the pub before he was captured, he was found four days later and charged for the robbery.

A police investigation confirmed that Ben Twyman had been the one holding the gun who approached the counter during the robbery, while Luke stood at the door, keeping watch.

At Canterbury Crown Court they both pleaded guilty to robbery, while Ben Twyman of Westover Road, Broadstairs, also admitted a count of having a firearm with intent.

Today, on their 30th birthdays, the pair were sentenced to six years each via virtual link at court.

Senior investigating officer Det Sgt Jason Booth said: "The brothers believed that robbing a business was the easiest and fastest way to get their hands on some cash.

"They threatened staff and pointed a weapon directly at them.

"It would have been terrifying, as most people would not know if the firearm is genuine in that situation.

"Unbelievably the Twyman twins didn’t seem to care about the severity of their actions as they went for a pint down the pub immediately after.

"However our officers take a very serious view of armed robbery and were determined to bring them before the courts so the public were no longer at risk of harm from them."

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