Watch the moment the plucky shopkeeper grabs a baseball bat to thwart a gang of masked robbers after the ringleader is jailed for four years.
- The incident took place in a shop in Shoreham-by-Sea on October 31.
- Samuel Brown was sentenced to 49 months in jail for robbery and two counts of assault
Police have released dramatic CCTV footage showing a shopkeeper in West Sussex defending the leader of a gang of masked robbers with a baseball bat.
Samuel Brown, 32, was sentenced to four years in jail after he ripped a cash register from the counter of a convenience store in Shoreham-by-Sea and assaulted a member of staff.
The incident, in which the staff member bravely fought him off with a baseball bat, took place on October 31 of last year.
The footage shows the gang leader entering the store wearing a blue jacket with the hood up and his face hidden.
He walks past a customer and climbs on the counter only to be pushed away by the shopkeeper. He tries again and the same thing happens.
Samuel Brown, 32, was arrested and charged with robbery and two counts of assault. He pleaded guilty to all counts and was sentenced to a total of 49 months in prison at Lewes Crown Court on March 1.
On the third try, he makes it to the other side and is confronted by the woman, who is holding a baseball bat.
They have a brief fight and she pushes him out of the way.
He then returns to smash the counter with an object that appears to be a wine bottle.
The gang leader then takes the box from the store counter.
At this point, the staff member quickly informed his relative, who chased Brown down and knocked him to the ground in a nearby garden, according to Sussex Police.
The footage shows the chase and Mr. Brown lying on the ground.
Mr. Brown was assaulted in the process, as was an occupant of the house who came out to help.
Together they managed to apprehend Brown before the arrival of the police.
The footage shows a man breaking down the store’s counter before driving off with the cash register.
Brown was arrested and charged with robbery and two counts of assault.
He pleaded guilty to all counts and was sentenced to a total of 49 months in prison at Lewes Crown Court on 1 March.
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 have to commend the courage of the three victims involved in this case, who put themselves in harm’s way to apprehend the defendant and help bring him to justice.”
“Theft is an extremely serious crime with serious consequences, and Brown now faces a lengthy term behind bars for his actions.”
