FOUR men have been jailed for a total of 58 years for an aggravated burglary in which they threatened a family with an imitation firearm and axes.

At around 9.45pm on December 4 last year, five men entered the living area of a property in Southend Road.

They shouted “armed police”, threatened four people inside - including two children - and tied a man’s hands together while holding a gun to his head.

The suspects then ransacked the property looking for cash but noticed flashing lights outside and mistakenly thought police had arrived.

Three suspects ran to a waiting van while Robertson waited upstairs holding an axe and imitation firearm. A struggle then took place between the victim and Robertson, who died from multiple injuries.

Police were able to track the four men involved at the burglary, at Baylees launderette, Grays, and they were sentenced on Friday at Basildon Crown Court.

Joseph Pearl, 28, and Harrison Fryer, 24, both of of Charter Place, Watford, were jailed for 12 years for aggravated burglary and three years for possessing an imitation firearm, to run consecutively, making a total of 15 years.

Jerome Johnson, 36, also of Charter Place, Watford, was jailed for 11 years for aggravated burglary and three years for possessing an imitation firearm, to run consecutively, making a total of 14 years. All three had admitted the charges.

Christopher Salvador, 31, of Hemming Way, Watford, was jailed for 14 years after previously being convicted of aggravated burglary.

Detective Chief Inspector Martin Pasmore, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: “These men put an innocent family though a living hell and subjected them to violent threats in their own home.

“A woman and two children were forced to watch as a loved one had their hands bound by the men and what appeared to be a firearm put to his head. I hope these prison sentences offer some comfort to them and will help them move on with their lives."