Watch moment brave shopkeeper grabs a baseball bat to foil masked robbery gang after ringleader is jailed for four years
- The incident took place at a store in Shoreham-by-Sea on October 31
- Samuel Brown was sentenced to 49 months in jail for robbery and two counts of assault
Dramatic CCTV footage showing a shopkeeper in West Sussex fending off the gang leader of a group of masked robbers with a baseball bat has been released by police.
Samuel Brown, 32, was sentenced to four years in jail after he wrenched a till from the shop counter of a convenience store in Shoreham-by-Sea and assaulted a member of staff.
The incident, which saw the staff member bravely fight him off, took place on October 31 last year.
Footage shows the gang leader enter the shop in a blue jacket with his hood up and his face concealed.
He walks past a customer and climbs onto the counter only for the shopkeeper to push him off. 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 offences and was sentenced to 49 months’ imprisonment at 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 out of the way.
The video shows the gang leader return to smash the counter with an object that appears to be a bottle of wine.
He then takes the till from the shop counter.
At this point, the member of staff quickly informed her relative, who pursued Mr Brown and tackled him to the floor in a nearby garden, according to Sussex Police.
The footage shows the chase and Mr Brown being pulled to the ground.
The police said that Mr Brown was assaulted in the process, as was an occupant of the house who came out to assist.
Together, they managed to detain Mr Brown prior to the police arriving.
Footage shows a man smashing the shop counter before making off with the till
Mr Brown, of Stoney Lane in Shoreham, was arrested and charged with robbery and two counts of assault.
He pleaded guilty to all offences and was sentenced to 49 months’ imprisonment at 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 have to commend the courage of the three victims involved in this case, who put themselves in harm’s way in order to detain the defendant and help bring him to justice.
‘Robbery is an extremely serious offence which comes with serious consequences, and Brown now faces a lengthy period behind bars for his actions.’
