TWO men who robbed a convenience store armed with a 2ft machete have been jailed.

Wayne Rogan and Callum Horsley lured the owner of the Aras store in Northgate, Hartlepool, outside by banging on the window.

The terrified shopkeeper was then forced back inside by Rogan who was brandishing the weapon.

While 22-year-old Horsley filled a bag with packets of cigarettes from behind the counter, Rogan, 29, grabbed between £200 and £300 in notes from the till.

Both men were in disguise with Rogan wearing bright orange overalls and a hood covering his face, and Horsley in camouflage clothing and a gas mask.

The pair were quickly identified as suspects and police attempted to arrest them at an address in Hartlepool.

The men fled but were later caught, with Rogan found hiding in a neighbour's shed.

In mitigation, the court heard that both men had pleaded guilty to robbery and possessing an offensive weapon in a public place at the first opportunity.

The court heard that Horsley intended to write a letter to the store owner apologising.

Both defendants had numerous previous convictions, with Rogan convicted of robbery in 2008 and Horsley found with a knife in a public place last year.

Rogan was sentenced to four-and-a half years in prison, while Horsley was jailed for four years.

Judge Tony Briggs told the men they had committed a "particularly unpleasant robbery".

He added: "It was carried out at night and it was carried out against a shop which had just one member of staff.

“It is clear from the CCTV footage that the member of staff must have been absolutely terrified.

“It’s this type of behaviour that no community can tolerate.”