A man who played a role in a “terrifying” supermarket robbery and robbed a security guard of more than £20,000 has been jailed for 12 years.

James Mansbridge, 41, was charged with handling stolen goods following an armed robbery at Sainsbury’s in Bansons Lane, Ongar, on June 24 2013.

Five suspects, one with a shotgun, broke into the shop at 12.40am.

They confronted three night staff members, tying them up and locking them in a store room.

One of the victims was also struck in the face with the gun.

The gang stole items worth more than £62,000 including alcohol, tobacco, electricals, batteries and lottery scratch cards, and also took a four figure sum of cash.

They left the supermarket at about 2am, with staff raising the alarm at 2.20am.

Following a tip-off, Essex Police and Metropolitan Police searched a yard in Willoughby Drive, Rainham, on June 27 2013.

They found the stolen items inside in a container, along with Sean Geary, 32, who was arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods.

Car salesman Mansbridge and Lee Cox, 33, unemployed, of Crescent Road, Dagenham were later also arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods.

They denied the charges but were convicted on May 12 following a trial at Basildon Crown Court.

Geary admitted the charge at an earlier hearing.

On December 17 2014, Mansbridge and accomplice Paul Jones, 37, followed a security guard into Vanas Pharmacy and Post Office in Pitsea and threatened him in front of staff and customers.

The pair, who were armed with a knife and a handgun, stole a cash box containing more than £20,000 from the guard.

A shot was fired during the robbery, but no-one was hurt.

Mansbridge and Jones, of Rothbury Avenue, Rainham, fled in a Vauxhall Astra but were tracked to Romford within an hour and arrested, thanks to a tip-off from the public and help from the Metropolitan Police.

The money was also recovered.

The pair each admitted charges of robbery, possession of an offensive weapon in a public place and possession of a firearm at a hearing last year.

On Friday (August 12), Mansbridge was jailed for 12 years for robbery, possession of an offensive weapon in a public place, possession of a firearm and handling stolen goods.

Jones was jailed for a total of 10 years for robbery, possession of an offensive weapon in a public place and possession of a firearm.

Cox was jailed for two and a half years and Geary for 12 months suspended both for handling stolen goods.

Detective sergeant Ben Gibson said: “I am pleased these Mansbridge and Jones have been handed lengthy custodial sentences, in particular Mansbridge, who played a role in both of these terrifying crimes.

“He and Jones were clearly willing to use the weapons they had on them when they entered the post office, which was busy with customers in the run up to Christmas.

“I would like to thank members of the Pitsea community for their assistance in apprehending them quickly and bringing them to justice.”