THREE men have been sentenced to a total of more than 26 years in jail after convictions for robbery at a Tesco store in the Kidderminster area earlier this year.

Kevin Oulton, aged 46, of Masefield Close, Bilston, West Midlands; Carl Ansell, 45, of Giffard Road, Stow Heath, Wolverhampton; and Wayne Madlen, 53, of Hurstbourne Crescent, Wolverhampton, were found guilty at Worcester Crown Court on Friday September 6.

They were sentenced to nine years and seven months in prison, nine years and one month and eight years and three months respectively.

The convictions relate to a robbery at the Tesco Express Store in Cookley, Kidderminster, on March 13 this year where staff were threatened with axes and £7,000 of cigarettes were stolen.

Detective Constable Stephen Lewis, of Kidderminster CID, said: “We are pleased to see these lengthy sentences handed out for these three robbers whose actions undoubtedly caused distress and fear for the staff at the store and members of the public at the time.

“We hope this court result sends a message of deterrent and that we will always pursue those looking to come to Wyre Forest and commit crimes, particularly such serious ones as this, and seek the maximum prison terms possible for them.”