Three men have been jailed for their part in an armed robbery at a Birmingham jewellers shop during which a gunshot was fired into a dis-play cabinet.

The "carefully planned" attack on the store in the city's Balti Belt netted the robbers £45,000 worth of jewellery, the city's Crown Court was told.

Shazad Shasi (28) of Clifford Road, Newtown, who admitted robbery, possessing a firearm and possessing a firearm with intent, was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment.

Jason Masih (22) of Dearman Road, Sparkbrook, who pleaded guilty to the same charges, was given a ten-year sentence. Rowan Gul (23) of Arthur Road, Saltley, who also admitted the same charges as well as possessing a firearm when prohibited and dangerous driving, was jailed for five years.

In passing sentence, Mr Recorder Simon Draycott QC said small businesses were easy targets and susceptible to attack, and that the courts needed to pass severe sentences to deter others.

Benjamin Nicholls, prosecuting, said the robbery, committed on January 13 last year, was a "carefully planned and executed operation". A few days before the robbers had stolen a private hire car to use as getaway vehicle.

Mr Nicholls said the men had originally planned to ramraid the jewellers in Ladypool Road but then decided to go in through the back because the street was too crowded.

After using a semi-automatic shotgun to shoot off a lock, Shasi and Masih and another man, who were wearing balaclavas, burst in wielding the gun and a hammer. People in the shop were told they would be killed and in order to "strike terror" into them the gun was fired into a display cabinet. He said after Gul was arrested he made a witness statement saying he had been given £1,500 for his part in the attack. Simon Davies, for Masih, said he had been tempted to take part because he had got into debt.