A security guard was left 'traumatised' after he was threatened with a screwdriver before being tied up by a gang of thieves.
The terrifying burglary happened at the Strawberry Fields Digital Hub in Chorley on January 3 this year.
Gang member, Marvin Grant from Warrington posed as a delivery driver to gain access to the building around 10.30pm.
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Once inside, two other men appeared and Grant, 44, put the security guard in a headlock and threatened him with a screwdriver.
The frightened security guard - in his 50s - was then pinned to a sofa and tied up by members of the gang.
Grant and one of his accomplices then tried to removed the hard drive from the CCTV that captured the footage but were unable to do so, causing around £14,000 worth of damage in the process.
The gang of three remained in the premises for a further 40 minutes, with one keeping an eye on the security guard and the other two entering several offices belonging to different businesses and stealing around £17,000 of computer equipment.
The guard was able to free himself and call police shortly after the men left the scene.
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Grant was arrested on January 20 and on Tuesday, August 24 he appeared at Preston Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty to robbery and false imprisonment.
Grant had previously pleaded guilty to five commercial burglaries. He was sentenced to five and a half years in prison.
The other two men involved - pictured on the CCTV images below holding the security guard down on a sofa - have yet to be identified.
DC Paul Reid, of Chorley CID, said: “This was an incredibly traumatic incident for the victim, who was simply going about his work when he was threatened and tied up.
“Grant and his accomplices then caused thousands of pounds of damage to the hub, before stealing from the independent local businesses who use the building.
“This incident affected five separate businesses, causing them to lose money, and left an innocent man extremely shaken. This is simply unacceptable and we hope today’s sentencing sends a clear message that we will not stand for this type of crime in Lancashire, and will work hard to pursue justice and get offenders before the courts.
“We are now working hard to locate the other two men who were involved and would ask anybody with information to get in touch with us.
"If you think you know who they are please let us know by calling 101 and quoting log 1320 of January 3rd 2021.”
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