Two men have been jailed for an “incredibly frightening” robbery, during which a knife was held to a Dartford shopkeeper’s throat.

James Harris and Bradley Hughes were each sentenced to more than four years in prison after they raided a grocery store in Fleet Avenue on June 26.

They entered the shop at about 9pm, wearing hooded tops to conceal their identity.

Harris, 22, pulled a knife from a carrier bag and demanded money from the till while Hughes, 24, held open the door.

The victim attempted to defend himself with a hockey stick but it was snatched away from him.

Harris emptied the till and held the knife to the victim’s throat and demanded he hand over any coins.

He then stole a bottle of whiskey and fled the scene with Hughes.

Detectives investigating the incident identified Harris from CCTV stills. They arrested him along with Hughes the following day and both men were charged and remanded into custody. They were sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on Monday (September 12).

Detective Constable Steve Brown said: “This would have been an incredibly frightening experience for both the shopkeeper and also a further victim who was helping out in the shop at the time.

“Harris and Hughes were intent on stealing every last penny from the till and their actions will no doubt have a profound effect on them for a long time indeed.

“Thankfully, we were able to quickly identity and arrest both offenders. I hope the significant sentences now passed by the courts provide some comfort to the victims in this case.”

Harris, of Olive Road, Dartford, was jailed for four years and nine months, after pleading guilty to charges of robbery and possessing an offensive weapon in a public place.

He was also sentenced to a further 12 weeks for breaching a suspended sentence.

Hughes, formerly of Hesketh Avenue, Dartford, also pleaded guilty to the charge of robbery, for which he was sentenced to four years and two months in prison.

Hughes was given an additional six months for a breach of a suspended sentence.