Jewellery shop gun robber jailed

Victim Darren Prior gave evidence during the robbery trial

An armed robber has been jailed for at least 15 years for shooting a jewellery shop manager - who survived because the bullet hit his mobile phone.

Sean Henry, 35, of Wallington, south London, was found guilty of attempted murder, robbery, and possessing a firearm at Lewes Crown Court in May.

His getaway driver Timothy Cole, 30, of Crawley, West Sussex, was convicted of robbery and jailed for six years.

Darren Prior, 25, was shot at as he chased Henry down an alleyway in 2005.

His shop, Amore Jewellers, in Horsham, West Sussex, was looted of diamond rings worth £50,000.

Trial jurors heard Mr Prior survived being shot at from 20ft because the bullet ricocheted off the handset in his breast pocket.

You turned and with a chilling calmness you shot at him Judge Charles Kemp

During the raid, Henry threatened Mr Prior's colleague Christopher Purvis with being shot in the leg unless he opened a display cabinet, jurors were told.

Sentencing at Hove Crown Court on Thursday, Judge Charles Kemp said Henry carried out "audacious", "well-planned" robbery.

He told Cole he "played a crucial part", and had "boasted" of his involvement.

And he said Mr Prior displayed "consummate courage".

"When he was stuck in that narrow alleyway you turned and with a chilling calmness you shot at him," he told Henry.

Timothy Cole (left) drove a getaway car for Sean Henry (right)

Henry, of Douglas Close, spent his childhood in care homes, the court heard.

When he committed the crime, he was on licence after a 15-year jail term for murder, the court heard.

Judge Kemp said Henry must serve 15 years before parole is considered, for public protection.

Heroin user Cole, of Squirrel Close, Langley Green, had previously spent more than three years in jail for drug dealing, the court was told.

Cole also received a consecutive two-and-a-half-year jail term for drugs offences in 2005.

The pair were caught after a prison officer recognised Henry on a BBC Crimewatch appeal.