Two men who attacked and robbed a shopkeeper at knife-point have been jailed for a total of twenty-four and half years.

Naseem Khan, 25, of no fixed abode, and Bakhtullah Safi, 29, of Anson Road, London, were both sentenced to seven years for conspiracy to rob and four years to burgle, to run concurrently, at Reading Crown Court, on Thursday.

The pair were involved in a robbery at a Polish supermarket in Farnham Road, Slough, on August 10, last year. They were found guilty on Friday, February 13, after a five-day trial at the same court. As the shopkeeper left the building and walked to his van, the pair punched him in his neck from behind and hit him on the head before ordering him into his van, where some of the men robbed him of his phone, keys and cash at knife-point.

The shopkeeper told police when he turned around after being hit from behind he saw four to five men wearing hoods and scarves covering their faces and they were armed with knives.

A neighbouring shopkeeper reported the incident to police at 12.30am and officers arrived to find the victim at the back of the business.

Khan was arrested in the shop by officers when they went to the front of the building and found the shutter raised with him inside. Safi was arrested the following day, after a vehicle used to make their escape was linked to him. Safi was also jailed for a further two and a half years for perverting the course of justice, to run consecutively, after he made calls from prison in an attempt to interfere with a witness.

Detective Constable James Heath, investigating officer, said: “I am pleased with the sentences given to Khan and Safi which reflects the severity of the crime they committed.

“The pair were involved in robbing an innocent man who had just completed a day’s work, going about his day-to-day business as usual.The victim was undoubtedly left shaken by his ordeal. However, thankfully he was not seriously injured.

“Due to the fact we were alerted to the incident within moments of it occurring, we were able to respond very quickly and arrest Khan followed by the arrest of Safi.”