Jail for gang who robbed Bestway C&C

Five men, including two members of staff, have been jailed for a total of 24 years for their part in an armed robbery at a Bestway Cash & Carry in Northampton.

A gang of armed men stole £500,000 of cigarettes and £18,000 cash from the depot in January 2010, just a week after an aborted robbery at the same site.

Mabs Zar, who was deputy manager of the depot, was jailed for eight years, and Ravi Kumar, who also had a senior role at the ­depot, was jailed for four years. Alaimaga Thangarajam, Thalaya-sigham Krishnakumar and Balasingham Kathir were sentenced to four years.

Sentencing Zar, recorder Stephen Linehan QC said: "It's a significantly aggravating feature that having been trusted in a position of responsibility, trusted with the code to protect your employer's property, you betrayed that trust."