Watch moment brave shopkeeper grabs a baseball bat to foil masked robbery gang
Watch a brave shopkeeper grab a baseball bat to foil a masked robbery gang after its ringleader is sentenced to four years in prison
- The incident took place at a shop in Shoreham-by-Sea on October 31
- Samuel Brown was sentenced to 49 months in prison for theft and two counts of assault
Police have released dramatic CCTV footage showing a West Sussex shopkeeper fending off the gang leader of a group of masked robbers with a baseball bat.
Samuel Brown, 32, was sentenced to four years in prison after ripping a till from the counter of a convenience store in Shoreham-by-Sea and assaulting a member of staff.
The incident, in which the staff member bravely resisted him, took place on October 31 last year.
Footage shows the gang leader entering the store in a blue jacket with his hood up and his face hidden.
He walks past a customer and climbs onto the counter until the shopkeeper pushes him off. He tries again and the same thing happens.
Samuel Brown, 32, was arrested and charged with theft and two counts of assault. He pleaded guilty to all offenses and was sentenced to 49 months in prison by Lewes Crown Court on March 1
On the third attempt, he reaches the other side and confronts the woman, who is holding a baseball bat.
They have a brief scuffle and she pushes him aside.
The video shows the gang leader returning to smash the counter with what appears to be a bottle of wine.
Then he picks up the cash register from the counter.
At this point, the member of staff quickly informed her relative, who Sussex Police say chased Mr Brown and tackled him to the ground in a nearby garden.
The footage shows the chase and Mr Brown being pulled to the ground.
Police said Mr Brown was assaulted during the trial, as was an occupant of the home who came out to help.
Together they managed to detain Mr. Brown before the police arrived.
Footage shows a man smashing the counter before making off with the cash register
Mr Brown, of Stoney Lane in Shoreham, was arrested and charged with robbery and two counts of assault.
He pleaded guilty to all offenses and was sentenced to 49 months in prison by Lewes Crown Court on March 1.
A 33-year-old man from Worthing was also arrested in connection with the incident, but was later released without charge.
Investigating Officer Richard Emmett said: “I must commend the courage of the three victims involved in this case, who put themselves in danger to detain the defendant and help bring him to justice.
“Robbery is an extremely serious crime with dire consequences, and Brown now faces a long period behind bars for his actions.”