THESE dramatic images show the moment a gang of masked raiders smashed their way into an Exeter jewellers.
The shocking CCTV footage, which was shown to the court this week and subsequently released to the Echo, captures the offenders carrying out the terrifying raid at Ernest Jones in the High Street.
The four-strong London-based gang were sentenced to a combined 33 years in prison at Exeter Crown Court on Monday for escaping with more than £200,000 worth of Rolex watches.
The footage showed jewellery shop manageress Nicola Bell cowering inside as the intruders used a claw hammer to smash their way into the locked glass cabinet.
The meticulously planned attack was over in less than a minute and the gang escaped using three getaway cars before police arrived and put the city centre into lockdown.
A huge police manhunt was then launched and the break-through came after the offenders were spotted scouting the shop four days before the raid.
Detectives also found CCTV from the Sainsbury's store at Alphington showing the men switching from the black Jaguar used in the raid to an Audi.
Police described them as "well-versed" in evading capture and it took several months of persistent investigations by Devon and Cornwall Police, with assistance from the Met, for all members of the gang to be located.
All but one of the robbers had long criminal records and three had been released from jail just months before the Exeter raid.
Alex Morgan, aged 37, of Barnet, Robert O'Connor, aged 26, of Pickford Hall, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, Alistair McWilliams, aged 27, and Omar Mentesh, aged 31, both of Arlington House, Camden, North London, all admitted robbery. O'Connor also admitted money laundering.
Miss Bell and fellow shop assistant Hannah Berger watched from the public gallery as O'Connor and McWilliams were jailed for nine years, Mentesh for eight and Morgan for seven years and four months.
Judge Francis Gilbert QC told them: "This was an excellent police investigation which revealed how the four of you came from the London area to commit this robbery.
"Ernest Jones opened at 9am. You arrived in a stolen Jaguar at about 8.55am as two ladies were preparing it for the day, including the supervisor Nicola Bell taking the Rolex watches from the safe to a secure display area.
"Mentesh smashed the shop door with a hammer and he and O'Connor went in while McWilliams stood guard in a pose clearly intended to threaten passers-by.
"Miss Bell locked herself inside the display cabinet and O'Connor told Mentesh to smash it and he repeatedly hit it with the hammer. The glass inevitably fell inwards, showering her with glass, cutting her and causing minor injuries.
"O'Connor moved her forcefully out of the way so he could get into the display even though she was still attached to the broken door by the key.
"This was a professional commercial robbery carried out by four criminals acting as a team and travelling to a distant destination using stolen cars having reconnoitred the premises in advance and carrying two hammers.
"It must have been a terrifying experience for the supervisor and her colleague in the shop and I have read the impact statements which show how traumatised they are by what happened."
None of the 30 watches with a retail value of £208,850 have been recovered.
Miss Bell was praised by the prosecution for a video recorded statement which was "remarkable in its detail and demonstrated her presence of mind throughout the incident."
Lawyers representing all four defendants asked for them to receive credit for early guilty pleas and said they are all full of remorse.
They said the robbers took the job due to financial pressure.
Miss Bell left the court without commenting and police say she wants to put the whole ordeal behind her.
DS Grant Leitch, of Exeter CID, said: "The sentencing reflects the gravity of this most noteworthy offence, not least of all the brutish way in which the offenders treated the staff."
He described the case as one of "fantastic and extensive police work" following the help of the Metropolitan Police in London.
He also praised Miss Bell and said she should be "profoundly commended on her very heroic actions."
"She was very brave and invaluable in her accurate and clear-headed provision of evidence," he added.
Recalling the day of the incident DS Leitch said: "On the morning of the robbery I remember standing at the scene with smashed glass everywhere thinking the offenders could be anywhere in the UK.
"A number of months later we knew who did it, how they did it, where they got their vehicles from, phone records, their associates and where they might hide. It was no mean feat catching one – let alone four – who were well versed in evading the justice system.
"We are thoroughly pleased with the result of this job and it is testimony to the skill and ability of all the officers involved."
