BROTHERS who planned to rob a security van in Poole have been jailed for a total of 23 years.

"Career criminal" Peter Stapleton, of Towngate Drive in Manchester, and younger brother Andrew Stapleton, of Wentworth Drive in Broadstone, hatched the plan together, even participating in a "dry run" to learn the security guards' route.

They were arrested on Thursday, May 22 outside Nationwide in Lower Blandford Road, Broadstone.

In their vehicle was a crash helmet and gloves, a walkie talkie and a balaclava, while an axe, wigs, two-way radios and a coat with a mask stuffed in a pocket were discovered at Andrew Stapleton's home.

It is thought that a police search of the car missed a concealed weapon, later discovered by Peter Stapleton's partner and discussed over the phone when he was in custody.

However, it has never been found.

The brothers denied conspiracy to rob a G4S Security van, but were found guilty last year following a trial at Bournemouth Crown Court.

Evidence was heard that a white transit van, hired by Peter Stapleton, was seen in the Poole area on the evening of Wednesday, May 7, travelling close to a G4S security van.

Examination of the defendants’ mobile phones revealed they had been used in and around the exact area at the same time linking them to the reconnaissance.

The hire van was used to transport a motorcycle, which had been registered in false details, from Manchester to Poole.

It was then stored until Thursday, May 22, when it was taken to the rear of the Nationwide Building Society in Broadstone.

Later that day Peter Stapleton travelled from Manchester to his brother’s home in Poole.

The car they were travelling in was seen by police officers driving slowly along Lower Blandford Road and past a G4S security van which was ready to complete a cash drop at the building society.

The car the turned around and stopped close by.

The Stapleton brother were arrested just after 8pm.

Sentencing the siblings, aged 49 and 38, Judge John Harrow said a phone call made by Peter Stapleton in prison to his partner and sister-in-law was ended by the defendant when the women began to discuss an item found in the back of his car.

"[They said] how shocked they were when they saw something contained in a bag which police had missed when they searched your car after you were both arrested," he said.

"Obviously you know what was in that bag. In a later call, one of the women said, 'I can't just bin what we've found'. It is not unreasonable to anticipate violence was contemplated in this enterprise."

He said he suspected a "weapon of some description" was concealed in the bag.

Peter Stapleton was on licence after being released from prison for participating in another conspiracy to commit armed robbery, which was carried out some years before, at the time of his most recent offence.

He was yesterday sentenced to 15 years behind bars, and will serve two-thirds before being released on licence if a parole board believes he is no longer a danger to the public.

Andrew Stapleton received an eight-year sentence for his part in the conspiracy.

Inspector praises officers involved in "difficult operation"

Senior investigating officer Detective Inspector Marcus Hester said: “These men were committed to robbing a G4S security van on the evening of Thursday, May 22, 2014.

Dorset Police proactively targeted these men and prevented a serious offence taking place and harm to people going about their normal business.

“Peter Stapleton is a career criminal who has already served long terms of imprisonment for armed robbery.

"The court today has rightly delivered an appropriate sentence for this offence.

“I would like to acknowledge the work of our major crime, covert operations and firearms teams involved in this difficult operation to detain these men at the same time as gathering sufficient evidence to secure these convictions.

“Many hours are spent tackling such criminals without the knowledge of the public to make sure that Dorset stays a safe place to work and live."