Michael Bond (left) and Robert Pinkney (right) have both been jailed

Two men have been jailed for more than 17 years after an armed robbery in Ribbleton.

Michael Bond, 31 of Gorsey Avenue, Manchester, was sentenced to 10 years and eight months.

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Robert Pinkney, 31, of Isis Close, Salford, to six years and eight months.

Both men had pleaded guilty.

The robbery took place at the Brookfield Newsagent on Langclife Rd, Ribbleton on Wednesday 12 June.

Wearing balaclavas, the two men had followed security guards into Brookfield Newsagents in preston as they filled the cash machine.

They threatened the guards with a machete and forced them to open the containers that held the cash cassettes.

Pinkney and Bond then made off in a stolen silver mini cooper. The mini was then found in Manchester with false plates.

Detective Sergeant Mark Riley from Preston CID said: “Bond drove at excessive speed placing innocent members of the public at risk. The car he was driving was stolen and then crashed into the central reservation causing damage to the road and to three police vehicles.

“Further enquiries then led the police to establish that Bond had planned to commit another armed robbery in Lancashire that day.”

Police are still appealing for information to find a third man wanted in connection with the robbery.

Lee James Seddon

Lee James Seddon, 36, from Salford, has a reward of £25,000 on his head being offered for information leading to his arrest.

DS Mark Riley continued: “I welcome the sentences handed down to both Bond and Pinkney, who will now have a long time to reflect on their actions.

“Importantly I hope these sentences show that the police in Lancashire will not tolerate offenders travelling from outside of the county and committing this type of crime.

“Detectives from Lancashire will pursue offenders and explore all avenues of investigation until they are brought to justice.

“The incident was particularly violent and left the victims extremely traumatised, after being threatened with weapons trying to do their job. I commend the courage the victims demonstrated while aiding the police’s investigation.

“This result has been made possible thanks to the hard work and dedication of the investigating officers and partner agencies including outstanding work by the prosecuting lawyer, Brett Gerrity and our colleagues in GMP.

“However, I would also like to use this opportunity to appeal to anyone who has information as to Lee Seddon’s current whereabouts or with any information that could assist with our efforts to find him to contact Lancashire Police on 101 quoting reference LC-20130612-0332. He should not be approached by the public.”