PHILIP Berry and Theo Steadman targeted Blake-down Post office along with a third accomplice, Damien Gordon.

A jury convicted the Birmingham trio of robbery and possession of a firearm while committing an offence after a five-day trial at Worcester Crown Court.

Prosecutor Rachel Brand said Berry and Steadman faced life because of previous convictions involving serious violence.

Berry, of Hockley, had served a five-year sentence for a £100 street robbery in 1996 when he held up the victim with a toy gun.

Steadman, also 24, of Woodgate Valley, had a previous conviction for wounding with intent in 1994.

The men's convictions are to be checked before they are sentenced at a date to be fixed.

They were suspected of other robberies in the West Midlands at the time and police set up Operation Deploy to investigate them.

Other raids included a store in Sutton Road, Kidderminster, a post office in Blackwell, Bromsgrove, and Aston University. But charges were not brought.

Det Insp Adrian Todd, of Kidderminster Police, said the Blakedown robbery was an extremely frightening experience for the post office staff.

He added: "These men are clearly dangerous people and it's satisfying that they have now been brought to justice.

"This outcome sends a very clear message to travelling criminals who are prepared to target premises such as rural post offices."

He revealed that Berry was arrested after the case was highlighted on the BBC's Crimewatch programme.

The jury heard that Steadman and Gordon, 21, of Nechells, were masked when they entered the post office. One of them drew a knife across Mr Cowling's hand. A gun was held to the head of daughter Helen.

They escaped with money from the till and got away in a stolen Audi 80 driven by Berry.

But within an hour they bought identical leather jackets with the proceeds from a shop by Berry's home and the owner identified him.

Steadman, who has also pleaded guilty to attempted robbery, was arrested after a gun was found in a car he used which was identical to the weapon used at Blake-down.

Gordon's fingerprint was on black tape used to doctor the Audi's number plate.

Miss Brand said Berry committed his first robbery at 13 and a string of convictions included kidnap, burglary and assault.

Gordon had three robberies on his record but they did not trigger the life term because no weapons were involved.

Steadman had served sentences totalling eight years for five previous robberies.

Judge Michael Mott remanded them in custody.