TWO men have been sent to jail for committing armed robbery at a Dorset post office.

Andrew Hunt, 43, and Miles Halahan, 54, both from Blandford, were convicted and sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court for offences of robbery at Bishop’s Caundle in Dorset.

Hunt was also found guilty of committing attempted armed robbery at another post office in Milborne Port, Somerset.

He was sentenced to a total of ten years in prison.

He was given a sentence of four and a half years imprisonment for the first robbery in Somerset and five and a half years for the Dorset offence.

He was also sentenced to four and a half years and five and a half years imprisonment for firearms offences at each robbery respectively, which will run concurrently with the robbery sentencing.

Halahan was found not guilty of the first robbery at Milborne Port, but was found guilty of robbery in Bishop’s Caundle and sentenced to seven years in jail.

The court heard that on Monday, July 15, Hunt entered the post offices with a hand gun, which is believed to be an air pistol, and demanded money.

At the post office in Milborne Port, Hunt was challenged by the post master and made off empty handed.

At the post office in Bishop's Caundle he was handed cash and escaped in a vehicle parked nearby.

The getaway car was owned and driven by Halahan.

A witness to the Dorset robbery noted the registration number of the vehicle which led to the arrest of both Hunt and Halahan a short time later on the same day.

Detective Constable Pete Gray, of Weymouth CID, said: “These crimes were distressing for the victims and caused a large amount of inconvenience. I commend the good witness accounts which helped to secure the arrests and convictions of both offenders.

“Thankfully crimes such as these are extremely unusual in Dorset. I hope the severity of these sentences will act as a strong deterrent to others.”

The CPS prosecutor was Nicholas Cotter.