Two men have been sentenced to prison in connection with a series of violent robberies at Ipswich company locations.

Yesterday, Kwasi Jacobs, 44, and Barrington Aitkens, 42, appeared in Ipswich Crown Court.

Jacobs, of Grimwade Street, Ipswich, was sentenced to 12 years and six months in prison, with a five-year license extension, since the court deemed him a dangerous offender.

He was advised that he must serve a minimum of eight years in prison before being considered for release.

Aitkens received a four-year and nine-month prison sentence.

Jacobs previously pleaded guilty to three counts of robbery, while Aitkens, of no fixed address, admitted to one offence of robbery.

The first offence occurred on July 15, last year, between 5 p.m. and 5.15 p.m., at a betting shop on Carr Street, where Jacobs entered the premises and waited for other customers to leave.

He then rushed over the counter, grabbed a female employee by the arms, and forced her to open the safe, stealing nearly £1,000 in the process.

He then dragged the woman into a staff restroom and threatened to harm her if she called for help.

The second offence occurred four days later, around 8.30 p.m., at a convenience store on Felixstowe Road.

Jacobs went over the counter once more and grabbed a female shop clerk by the neck before grabbing the entire contents of the till.

As a result of the incident, the victim had scratches on her neck.

The final incident occurred about 3.30 p.m. on July 21 at a convenience store in Clapgate Lane.

Jacobs entered the store, shut the door behind him, and then assaulted a male employee by striking him repeatedly before dragging him across the floor by his t-shirt and forcing him to unlock the till.

He then stole money, cigarettes, and alcohol.

During the attack, Aitkens effectively stood guard outside the door, keeping others from entering the establishment.

On CCTV, he was observed looking inside through the glass in the entrance, so he was fully aware of what was going on, and as Jacobs exited the business, he was shown handing Aitkens two bottles of alcohol.

Jacobs was instantly identified as a suspect when police were alerted.

Officers apprehended and arrested him about 30 minutes later, and he was charged the next day.

For the latest International News Follow BOL News on Google News. Read more on Latest International News on oldsite.bolnews.com