TWO men who took part in a bank robbery in Stokenchurch in which female staff members were assaulted have been jailed, along with another involved in a series of robberies and firearms offences.

The three men have been sentenced to a combined total of more than 35 years’ imprisonment after being convicted of the string of crimes across Thames Valley and London.

Hugh Atkins, aged 32, of Burtwell Lane, London, was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years’ imprisonment for one count of robbery at a bank in Stokenchurch. He pleaded guilty to the offence on Monday, June 9.

Jonathon Whitton, aged 38 of Drenon Square, Uxbridge, was sentenced to 17 years’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to five counts of robbery and three counts of possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Leon Simpson, aged 40, of Lambert Road, London, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for one count of attempted robbery and one count of robbery. He was found guilty of the offences in July.

The crimes took place across the Thames Valley and London between 2007 and 2013. The convictions followed a joint operation between Thames Valley Police and the Metropolitan Police Service’s Flying Squad.

On Monday, December 9, 2013, at around 9.10am, Whitton and another man - who has not been traced - entered a branch of Lloyds Bank in Church Path, Stokenchurch, pushing staff into the building as they entered.

The men assaulted two female staff members and demanded the safe be opened. They stole more than £180,000 before driving away in three vehicles - a van, a Vauxhall Meriva and a Volkswagen Golf.

The investigation uncovered that Atkins had hired the van that was used.

On November 13, 2007, a robbery took place at an Abbey National in Oxford in which a quantity of cash was taken. Whitton was later identified as being responsible for this robbery.

The men were arrested and charged on December 17 last year, after a series of warrants were conducted at addresses linked to them in the Thames Valley and London.

Four of the warrants took place in Oxford and, during a search of a property linked to Whitton in Priory Road, three firearms and ammunition were located in a cupboard.

Whitton and Simpson were also convicted of an attempted robbery at a petrol station in Sternhold Avenue, Streatham, on May 21, 2013.

On July 10, 2013, a robbery in which a cash box was stolen took place at the same location as the attempted robbery. Whitton was later identified as being responsible for this robbery.

On November 8, 2013, the men targeted a custodian conducting a collection and delivery at a bank in East Avenue, Hayes, Middlesex. A safe box containing £30,000 worth of a customer's personal items were stolen including items belonging to the family of an 11-year-old boy who died in a collision.

Speaking after the sentencing, which took place at Kingston Crown Court, investigating officer Det Con Matt Kent, from High Wycombe Force CID, said: "I welcome the sentences which reflect the seriousness of the offences.

"This gang operated across the south east for a number of years and I hope their sentences have given their victims a sense of closure, some of whom suffered terrifying ordeals at their hands."