A would-be armed robber who tried to carry out a raid at a jewellers while dressed in women's clothing has been jailed.

Footage released by police shows Ryan Valentine, 39, entering the shop in drag, wearing a long dark wig, a pair of sunglasses and a black skirt.

He then pulls out an imitation handgun from his handbag before his crash helmet-wearing accomplice Raymond Price, 45, joins him in the shop in Leatherhead High Street, Surrey.

After demanding cash and jewellery, two staff members in the store suddenly tackle the crooks - causing Valentine's wig to go flying and his skirt to fall partially down.

Glasgow Times:

Price was detained at the scene but Valentine managed to flee. He was eventually arrested in Sussex several days after the attempted raid, which happened on February 19.

At Guildford Crown Court on Thursday, Valentine, of Carlton Road, Walton-on-Thames, was jailed for six years and Price, of Thamesmead, also in Walton, got 45 months behind bars after they admitted possessing an imitation firearm, Surrey Police said.

A third person, 29-year-old Paula Green, of Grenside Road, Weybridge, was sentenced to 15 months in jail for assisting an offender, police added.

Detective Sergeant Joe Easterbrook said afterwards: "This was a highly-unusual incident where two men in very distinctive clothing attempted to rob a local business in broad daylight.

"The two members of staff working that day refused to be intimidated by the suspects and showed tremendous bravery to challenge the two men and stop Price from leaving the store until our officers arrived.

"Although the members of staff were both very shaken by what took place, fortunately they both only suffered minor injuries during the incident."