TWO men have been jailed for a total 14-and-a-half years after carrying out “terrifying” gunpoint robberies.

Akeem Williams, 18, has been jailed for eight-and-a-half years, while Jordan Marks, 20, faces six years for two attacks in Witney.

Oxford Crown Court heard how the cannabis users were among a group of men who threatened Brian Overton in his home on March 9 last year.

Mr Overton said a gun was put to his head before the pair threatened to kill him. The gun was also pointed at his friend Nick Carnell before cannabis, £140 cash and a crowbar were stolen.

In a second incident five days later, Marks, of Stone Meadow, Oxford, and Williams, of Victor Street, also in Oxford, went to meet Jordan Skipp to buy cannabis.

Mr Skipp said a gun was put to his head and was told to get in a car where they demanded the names of people who had drugs or money.

He said: “They said they’d take me to a field to teach me a lesson.”

Roger Coventry, prosecuting, said Mr Skipp was told to phone Mr Carnell to ask to buy £20 of cannabis before they barged into his home. One of the men pointed a gun at Mr Carnell’s face, while another put a crowbar under his nose and threatened to break it, the court heard.

The pair then took the men to Deer Park where they were told to call friend Dominic Hardy.

The court heard how Mr Hardy went to the car park and was told to get on his knees before he was threatened with the gun.

Mr Hardy’s mobile phone was taken, before he escaped and raised the alarm. He said: “Throughout this incident I was terrified.”

Neither the gun or two other men involved in the second incident were found, Mr Coventry told the court. Scott Ivil, defending, said Marks was homeless and needed to pay a drug debt, but “acted” the part of a robber.

Lucy Tapper, defending Williams, said he fell into drugs to deal with the death of his grandfather. Judge Patrick Eccles said of the victims: “They were in fear for their personal safety, if not their lives.”

Williams was told he was “more culpable” as he committed more of the offences.

But Judge Eccles cited Marks’ “appalling criminal” record of 29 offences, including drugs and violence.

Williams admitted four counts of robbery and denied another and Marks admitted two counts of robbery, but denied three.

Williams admitted two counts of possession of an imitation firearm with intent. Marks admitted one and denied another of the same charge.

Both admitted two counts of kidnapping and a count of attempted kidnapping. Both denied a count of attempted robbery. Williams admitted possession of an offensive weapon. This was denied by Marks.

All not guilty pleas will lie on file.