FOOTAGE of an armed robbery on a jewellery store in Bournemouth town centre shows the “violent” and “frightening” ordeal staff experienced at the hands of the two criminals.

Mustafa Ali, 25 and Michael Adiat, 23, carried out the raid at Franses Jewellers in Westover Road in January last year.

Video from the incident, which has just been released by Dorset Police, shows the pair sat with an employee of the shop looking at watches shortly before 4.30pm.

Ali can be seen standing up from his chair and taking out an imitation handgun, with Adiat doing the same moments later and grabbing the member of staff round the neck.

The former then takes a hammer from his holdall and begins to smash the glass of a display cabinet.

While doing this, Adiat threatened a second member of staff with his imitation firearm and also snatched him by the throat, with the gun pointed around their heads.

After smashing open one of the cabinets, Ali places some watches and the hammer in his bag, and the pair run out of the store onto Westover Road.

From entering the shop to leaving the premises the incident lasted 11 minutes.

The two men were sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court earlier this month after pleading guilty to robbery and possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

Ali, of Bailey Close in London, also pleaded guilty to three other robberies at jewellers in Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire and Essex. He was jailed for 16 years and told he would be subject to an extended five-year licence period.

Adiat, of Maundeville Street in London, was sentenced to 12 years in prison with a three-year extended licence period.

DC Jo Regan, of Bournemouth CID, said: “This was a violent offence and a very frightening ordeal for the victims, who all showed considerable bravery in the circumstances.

“I hope the sentence imposed by the court will send out a clear message that this kind of offending will not be tolerated.”