UPDATE: £45k cash box robbers found guilty after police conduct world's first Twitter reconstruction

Terrance Clark, 50, and his son Lewis Clark, 27, of Thessaly Road, Battersea, were found guilty of conspiracy to rob and possession of an imitation firearm with criminal intent at Guildford Crown Court today.

Police said they spent nine month putting together the case against the pair and a month on from the robbery, they carried out what is believed to be the world's first reconstruction of a crime on Twitter.

It reached more than 53,000 Twitter users.

Police hope today's verdict will help the traumatised cash delivery driver to move on after the violent pistol-whipping that left his helmet full of blood and fragments of teeth on his clothes.

On January 30 the pair travelled to Tattenham Corner, with the sole intention of committing armed robbery outside a Co-op in Tattenham Crescent.

Victim James Smith, who spent 24 years in the army, told the court that a gunman pointed a pistol at his chest and pulled the trigger. It did not fire and he was badly beaten with the gun.

During the trial cell phone analysis was presented to the jury and it was revealed that Lewis Clark used YouTube to search for videos on how to commit a cash-in-transit robbery.

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Rymarz said: "The Clarks' are clearly extremely dangerous individuals and thankfully due to the verdict today are likely to remain off the streets of Surrey for some time.

"Neither Terrance or Lewis have shown a shred of remorse for this horrific crime, which was committed for no other reason other than pure greed.

"Although we cannot turn back the clock for the victim, I hope the verdict today will go some way to allow him and his family to move on for this horrendous ordeal.

"I would like to thank them for the courage they have shown throughout the legal process and I wish them all the best for the future.

"The cash delivery industry offers a valuable service and innocent men and woman who are just going about their every day job should not have to live in fear of being targeted by such criminals as the Clarks'."

Cash box similar to the one stolen

The gunman knocked out Mr Smith’s front teeth and badly injured his face and hands. The victim needed bone grafts and implants, still needs dental treatment and has not worn his wedding ring since it was removed due to swelling.

Mr Smith said: "As a cash-delivery driver I had received extensive training from the company around what to do in the event of a robbery but the events of that day happened so quickly I was unable to act.

"It was surreal and no amount of training could ever prepare you for that experience. It is unbelievable how quickly your life can change, the little things you once took for granted are taken away from you at no fault of your own.

"You never think anything like this will happen to you, but it can happen to anyone, and I would strongly encourage anyone who has either been a victim or witness of a crime to seek the necessary help and advice which is available to allow you to come to terms with your ordeal."

The getaway car

At 10.20am on the day of the robbery a stolen Chevrolet was seen circling the shops. At 10.31am a gunman attacker Mr Smith, grabbed the cash box and fled the scene.

About an hour later the Chevrolet was found in North View Crescent. Terrance Clark was arrested within hours of the robbery and his son was arrested six days later.

The pair remained on police bail for nine months during an "extensive and thorough investigation" by police officers and staff from CID.

It included CCTV, financial investigations, automatic number plate recognition, ANPR, mobile telephone analysis and a number of warrants were also executed.

Timeline of events relived on Twitter in real-time:

 • Approx 10.15am – A rare cream coloured Chevrolet Captiva is seen circling the shops on Tattenham Crescent three times. The car was being driven with its headlights on even though it was a bright and sunny day.
• 10.20am - The cash delivery van pulls up to make a delivery and parks opposite the Co-op store.
• 10.23am – The Chevrolet enters the car parking area and reverse parks into a bay towards the end of the parade of shops alongside the Co-op and behind a silver vehicle.
• 10.29am – The Chevrolet remains stationary with its brake lights on while the passenger jumps out and attacks the cash delivery officer.
• 10.30am – The Chevrolet leaves the scene with the driver and passenger on board. It is believed it travelled along Shawley Way, turned left into Garlichill Road and then right into North View Crescent.
• 11.35am – The Chevrolet is found abandoned at the junction of Garlichill Road and North View Crescent by officers investigating the incident.