THREE men who staged a terrifying armed robbery at a Hampshire jeweller's were due to be sentenced today.

Businessman David Price, 57, was forced to kneel down at the back of his shop and feared he was about to be shot.

His ordeal began when at least two masked men brandishing handguns and shouting “Get down!” burst into the shop just over a year ago.

One of them stood over him, pointing the weapon at his head, as other members of the gang used hammers to smash their way into the display cabinets.

As reported in the Daily Echo, they made off with cash and jewellery worth thousands of pounds, including 50 watches and five trays of earrings.

Sergiu Popirtac, 39, of Hatfield, Hertfordshire, and two other men, Tudorel Dogaru, 44, and Mugerel Megelea, 37, both of no fixed address, were later arrested in connection with the raid.

They were due to be sentenced at Southampton Crown Court today after admitting conspiracy to commit robbery, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

A fourth man charged with the same offence pleaded not guilty and was cleared at Bournemouth Crown Court in July.

Mr Price was alone in the store, Barry Papworth Jewellers in St Thomas Street, Lymington, when the gang burst in on October 17 last year.

Speaking to the Daily Echo a few days later he said: “I heard the door open and saw two guys with handguns.

“One of them told me to lie down but I decided to kneel, thinking I'd be even more vulnerable if I was flat on the floor.

“I heard the cabinets being smashed and asked them to use my keys instead, but they just swore and said 'No time'.”

Asked if he thought he was going to be shot Mr Price said: “It does go through your mind.”

The businessman has since installed extra security measures at the store, which still bears the name of the previous owner.