Moment have-a-go-hero takes on robbers brandishing swords with crate of beer
This is the moment a have-a-go-hero ran after a pair of robbers wielding swords and machetes with a crate of beer which he then threw at them.
He chucked the lagers at Jeffrey Chikosha and Brandon Jarrett after they targeted the Londis store in Leeds two days before Christmas 2021.
The duo - who were on tag under a condition they did not associate with each other - worked with two other men as they all burst into the shop wielding weapons while their faces were covered.
Leeds Crown Court heard on Tuesday that Chikowsha, 25, "leapt" over a counter and began to fill a bag with cigarettes. Jarrett told a shop worker to open a till. She tried to press a panic alarm but Chikosha saw and shoved her aside before forcing open the till.
West Yorkshire Police said the brave customer told the men to "make it quick and leave" before he started to throw a crate of beer at them and they left.
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It was not the first time Chikowsha and Jarrett, 23, robbed a shop, as they had targeted a Post Office on December 13.
The robbers worked with two other men as they all burst into the shop wielding weapons while their faces were covered (Leeds Live/MEN MEDIA)Prosecutor Temitayo Dasaolu told the court: "The defendants entered with their identities concealed and armed with weapons. They demanded a staff member open the tills in order to steal money and filled a sack with cigarettes and other items.
"One [of the men] said they were not there to hurt them and if they did what they were told they wouldn't be harmed. They told a staff member to open the till and she said she was in fear for her life and thought Jarrett may use the machete on her. One of the defendants helped himself to two bottles of vodka as they left."
On December 29, they robbed another Co-Op store.
Chikosha had been convicted of three counts of robbery and three of possession of a weapon after a trial and Jarrett had previously pleaded guilty to the same charges.
As they were sentenced yesterday, the court was told about the dramatic footage which showed them brandishing a machete and a sword while one of them took money from a till and another put cigarettes into a duvet cover.
Brandon Jarrett (Leeds Live/MEN MEDIA)
Jeffrey Chikowsha (Leeds Live/MEN MEDIA)The footage has now been released by West Yorkshire Police and also shows the brave actions of the customer who took them on and won. He has now been commended and referred to the High Sheriff of West Yorkshire.
Recorder Dallas jailed Chikowsha for nine years and Jarrett for six years and nine months and told them: "Shopkeepers and their workers are extremely vulnerable and provide an important public service.
"They are open for long hours and are vulnerable to people like you who probably saw them as easy targets. You got away with several thousands of pounds in cash and cigarettes and left behind at least three people who will not forget this for a long time."
Following the sentencing, detective Inspector Vicky Vessey, who heads Leeds District Crime Team, said: "The footage from the robbery at the Londis store shows very starkly what a terrifying experience this was for those involved.
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"It is important that we recognise the incredible bravery of the customer who, despite facing three masked men armed with swords, stood up to them, fought back and chased them from the store.
“While we always advise people caught up in such potentially dangerous situations to put their safety first, his actions clearly made the difference in bringing this incident to a conclusion before anyone was seriously hurt.
"We will be making sure that his courage is formally recognised through our awards process."
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