TWO men who carried out a series of knife point robberies in betting shops across the county have been jailed for a total of 24 years.

Premises in Hampshire, as well as Dorset and Berkshire,  were targeted by the pair between January 13 and January 27 this year.

At Southampton Crown Court today, James Frampton, age 30, of Byron Road, Eastleigh was jailed for 12 years and Michael Purkiss, age 55, of Arthur Road, Eastleigh was also given a 12-year prison sentence.

The sentences come after Purkiss and Frampton committed nine robberies over 15 days at the beginning of the year in bookmakers, starting off their spree in Corals in Bitterne Precinct and ending in Corals, Chandler's Ford.

In each case, Frampton entered the betting shops with his face covered and armed with a knife.

Daily Echo:

He would demand money from the staff, threatening them if they did not comply.

Armed with the cash he would then jump in his ride outside, being driven Purkiss, who drove him from place to place.

The pair stole more than £5000.

Officers arrested the pair in a vehicle on January 31 and charged them with robbery.

Daily Echo:

Such was the evidence against them, both men pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery and today were jailed for a combined 24 years.

Detective Constable Ali Humby from the Western Investigation Team said: “I hope the sentences today serve as some closure to those staff members who were subjected to these crimes. I also hope this sends a message to those thinking of committing this type of crime is easy to get away with - it isn't.

"We will catch you, and when we do, you will go to prison for very long time.”