Three seemingly-respectable friends who robbed a Securicor cash van of more than £300,000 were today starting a total of nearly 40 years behind bars.

The trio hatched the violent robbery after one of them got a part-time job working as a driver for the security firm.

Outwardly they were respected members of the community, with two of them studying at Bradford University.

But sentencing them at Leeds Crown Court yesterday, Judge Kerry Macgill described them as criminals greedy for cash.

"The general motive in my view was simply young men seeking to enrich themselves," he said.

Amir Hussain, 23, of Horton Grange Road, Great Horton, received 15 years for his part as the inside man.

Getaway driver Fahim Azam, 23, of Farnham Road, Great Horton, was jailed for 14 years.

And Mohammed Farooq, 22, of Hollingwood Lane, Lidget Green, received ten years after pleading guilty at an early stage.

Judge Macgill said Hussain had been planning the raid ever since he began working for Securicor in July 2001.

"What is quite clear to me is that over the period of your employment you were testing the security of Securicor," he said.

"You were pushing and finding out what you could get away with."

The robbery took place at the Crown Retail Park, Leeds, in January 2002.

Hussain's co-driver David Dyer had gone for a toilet break when he was ambushed by Fahim Azam and Mohammed Farooq.

Mr Dyer was struck on the back of the head, gagged with tape and handcuffed to the toilet pipe.

Judge Macgill said Hussain had placed Mr Dyer in great danger knowing that he was to be attacked when he went to the toilet.

He also commented how Hussain, who had a degree in economics, and Azam, a law and accountancy graduate, were a far cry from those that normally appeared before him in court.

"You are not young men that I see day in and out coming before the courts addicted to heroin by drug dealers desperate for money," he said.

"You come from decent hard-working backgrounds."

As he was taken to the cells to begin 14 years behind bars Azam passed his legal team a mobile phone similar to the one that had provided such damning evidence against him.

Judge Macgill paid particular attention to the fact that Azam's father, Sher Azam, the president of Bradford Council of Mosques, was a well known and respected member of the community.

And he predicted how the robbery would bring shame on all three families.

"They will share a sense of loss and puzzlement by their children, who they educated and looked after, resorting to something like this," he said.

The men were silent throughout the hearing. Farooq appeared to be rubbing tears from his eyes after learning his fate. The two other men simply waved to friends and family as they were led away.

None of the money has been recovered during the investigation and prosecuting barrister Philip Standfast said he will be applying for confiscation procedures on Hussain and Azam.

Judge Macgill said he hoped the lengthy jail terms would show that crimes of this nature would not be tolerated.

He also commended the diligent police investigation that had brought the men to justice.

Speaking after the hearing Detective Sergeant Steve Snow said: "We are very happy with the jury's verdict and obviously the sentences send out a clear reference to the seriousness of the case.

"It is a fine conclusion to a long and committed investigation."