STAFF at a Wilmslow travel agent's were subjected to a 'traumatic' robbery involving three masked raiders.

Before the three men were sentenced at Chester Crown Court, it was heard that on May 20, shortly before 12.50pm, they entered a Co-op Travel agents on Dean Row Road, Wilmslow, wearing balaclavas, where they threatened staff with a knife before taking cash from the store’s safe.

Ian Hughes, 52, of Sheil Road, Liverpool, was sentenced to 13 years and four months, Michael Connolly, 52, of Upper Frederick Street, Liverpool, was sentenced to seven years and four months, and John Alderson, 55, of Reed Avenue East, Wirral, was sentenced to six years and four months.

The court had heard the trio fled the scene and sped off through Derbyshire and into the Staffordshire Moorlands – where their car, a black Ford C-Max, was eventually stopped near the Uttoxeter junction of the A50.

They were subsequently charged with robbery, and all pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing.

Investigating officer Det Cons Rob Wolstenholme said: “To be the victim of any violent crime is never acceptable, but to be the victim of a masked armed robbery is even more traumatic.

"Alderson, Hughes and Connolly spared no thought for the staff members at work that day or the member of the public who was in the store - they were only intent on getting hold of money to further fund their criminal behaviour.

“I am pleased the judge could see the threat these men posed to the communities of Cheshire.

"The sentences handed to all three has helped to remove a number of dangerous individuals from our streets for some time.

“The conclusion of this case is a result of a fantastic team effort by Macclesfield Local Policing Unit.

"We hope it sends out a strong message that we will not tolerate travelling criminals crossing the border in order to commit such serious crimes.”