TWO men who robbed a jewellers in Alton earlier this year have been jailed for a combined four years and nine months at Winchester Crown Court.

Lee Benneyworth, 39, from Leominster Road, Paulsgrove, Portsmouth, was sentenced to two years and six months in prison, while his accomplice Jamie Massiah, 40, of no fixed abode, was sentenced to two years and three months in prison last Friday (May 20).

The court heard that at around 3.35pm on Tuesday, February 8, Benneyworth and Massiah walked into TH Baker jewellers in Alton High Street and made enquiries about Rolex watches before leaving the shop.

Both men returned a short time later and began shouting at staff, demanding they place jewellery in a bag. The men then smashed cabinets and took jewellery on display before fleeing.

Police rushed to the scene and quickly identified a black Mini that was used in the robbery.

Later that same day, Benneyworth and Massiah were located with the black Mini in the Havant area, and found in possession of cash and a number of tags that had been removed from the stolen jewellery.

Benneyworth and Massiah were arrested and subsequently charged with robbery.

They both pleaded guilty to the offence at a previous hearing.

Detective Chelsea Adamson from Hampshire’s Northern Investigations Team said: “This was a premeditated and brazen robbery, carried out in the middle of Alton at a busy time of day.

“Officers deployed to the area and carried out a fast paced investigation, leading us to quickly identify the car used in the robbery and the two men responsible.

“This was understandably a shocking and distressing incident for the staff and something nobody should have to experience.

“I hope this sentence reassures both the staff and the community that we take incidents involving violence of any kind extremely seriously and we will do everything we can to put those responsible before the court and bring them to justice.”