THREE men have been jailed for a total of 18 years and nine months after an armed robbery at a video store in Hazlemere.

Paul Barzey, aged 23, Troy Tutin, aged 21, and 20-year-old Alexander Davies, all from Slough, were sentenced at Reading Crown Court on Wednesday.

The men were also charged for two previous armed robberies at Blockbuster video stores in Slough, on February 15, and Maidenhead on March 1, 2009.

Police launched a special operation following the first two robberies, and armed officers caught the men identified as Barzey and Davies at the Blockbuster in Park Parade Centre in Hazlemere. Tutin was later arrested.

All three were identified as the men who approached the store just before 10pm on March 15 last year, just as a staff member was locking up.

The staff member saw a gun in one man's hand and was told to get on the floor before the men began demanding money.

The member of staff told them he couldn’t give them money and was kicked in the face by a man with a bar, later identified as Barzey.

The victim was also struck on the head by the man with the gun.

Police said armed officers arrived "within minutes" and the men identified as Barzey and Davies were detained in the store.

Detectives were able to trace the Hazlemere robbery to a burnt out car, which was used during the robbery in Maidenhead and later found in Wooburn.

Tutin and Davies were both sentenced to six years, after they pleaded guilty to three counts of robbery and three counts of being in possession of an imitation firearm. Davies was also sentenced for being in possession of cannabis.

Barzey was sentenced to six years and nine months, after he pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery and two counts of being in possession of an imitation firearm. Police said the third charge will stay on file.

The 23-year-old also pleaded guilty to assaulting a member of staff during one of the incidents and was sentenced in connection with a separate offence of burglary dwelling.

Detective Inspector Steve Armstead, who led the investigation, said “These were very serious offences with a number of aggravating features. They involved the use of firearms, accompanied by acts of violence and substantial amounts of money were taken. The Blockbuster’s staff involved, some of whom are young students, suffered an extremely frightening experience.

“This is now the conclusion of a protracted and complicated enquiry which required the deployment of some of the most advanced scientific methods. We hope it provides some closure to the Blockbuster’s employees who acted so bravely in what must have been terrifying circumstances.

“I would like to praise the work of the officers who conducted a thorough and detailed investigation, which led to these three men standing before the Judge.”