Shopkeepers breathed a sigh of relief today as the Benson & Hedges gang began their prison sentences.

Brothers David and Simon Whittle grabbed packets of the cigarettes as they terrorised off-licences and corner stores throughout the Brighton and Hove area for three weeks earlier this year.

Stiff sentences imposed yesterday were welcomed by their victims.

Nigel Hill, 42, refused to hand over cash and was floored with a head-butt after the brothers burst into the Thresher off-licence in Longridge Avenue, Saltdean, Brighton, at 8pm on May 8.

The robbers, armed with a wheel brace, escaped with cash from the till before driving to another target.

Today, Mr Smith said: "I'm pleased it is all over and those two responsible will be unable to cause such injuries to anyone else."

Another victim praised Sussex Police and the courts.

Robert Ford, 36, came face-to-face with them on May 6 at Thresher in Western Road, Hove, which he manages.

He said: "It was all over very quickly. They marched into the shop, pulled a knife on me and demanded cash from the till.

"There wasn't much money in it so they forced me to open a safe and empty it.

"One of them asked me to hand over some packets of Benson & Hedges cigarettes but the other intervened and said 'Let's go'.

"They walked calmly out of the shop and got into an Astra and drove off.

"I'm glad it is over and Brighton and Hove shops are safe again."

Police were so worried for shopkeepers that they took the unusual step of releasing the names of David Whittle, 28, and brother Simon, 30, even before they knew where they were hiding.

Detectives built up a pattern of the brothers' crimes as they carried out the robberies while moving to different addresses throughout the Brighton and Hove area.

Officers involved in Operation Benson warned neither of the brothers should be approached because they armed themselves with knives, screwdrivers and a wheel brace.

In the end, Simon Whittle was captured trying to steal a car in Dover and his brother was arrested with a juvenile in Great Yarmouth.

Detective Constable Barry Sutherden, a key officer involved in Operation Benson, said: "The pair were becoming more daring and we were becoming more concerned.

"Shopkeepers were getting scared but a good team effort by Sussex Police, with help from four other forces, finally brought the offenders to justice.

"These two deserved to be locked up.

"Corner shops and off-licences have been seen as soft targets for robbers but courts are now handing down severe penalties to offenders in an effort to protect them."

Last week, a robber who held up a string of off-licences armed with his son's toy gun was jailed for ten years at Hove Crown Court.