Post by BigFaker on May 13, 2010 13:24:31 GMT -5
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_yorkshire/8681357.stm
*See link for video*
Gunman Azar Sulman is serving a six-year sentence after admitting a spate of robberies
A customer in a Leeds betting office captured an armed robber who threatened to shoot him, a court has heard.
Judo expert Martin Richardson was in the William Hill bookies in Burley on 28 January when the robbery took place.
Twenty-year-old Azar Sulman pointed his gun at Mr Richardson who then knocked him to the floor with a chair and held on to him until police arrived.
Sulman, of Brudenell Road, Leeds, was sent to a young offenders' institution for six years after admitting robbery.
The judge at Leeds Crown Court also sentenced him to six years for two other robberies and an attempted robbery between November 2009 and January 2010.
The sentences are to run concurrently.
We would like to pay tribute to Mr Richardson for his courage and cool-headedness during what must have been an absolutely terrifying experience
Det Insp Neil Thompson, West Yorkshire Police
The court was told that 38-year-old Mr Richardson, the father of Leeds Rhinos rugby league player Ryan Bailey, could now be in line for bravery awards from both West Yorkshire Police and the Association of British Bookmakers.
Judge Scott Wolstenholme awarded him £250 from the public purse for his public spirited actions.
Mr Richardson had been playing the fruit machines in the bookies when Sulman struck shortly before closing time.
He forced the cashier to hand over money but as he tried to flee his escape was blocked by Mr Richardson.
It was only after the incident that police discovered the weapon used by Sulman was a replica handgun.
Det Insp Neil Thompson, of West Yorkshire Police, said: "We would like to pay tribute to Mr Richardson for his courage and cool-headedness during what must have been an absolutely terrifying experience, staring down the barrel of a gun being pointed at him by a masked robber.
"We never encourage members of the public to put themselves at risk by taking on armed criminals but Mr Richardson's brave and public-spirited actions in tackling and detaining this man clearly helped police to take a serial armed robber off the streets and stop him offending again."
Martin Richardson
Azar Sulman
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Absolute fearless legend. His son is a brilliant rugby player too!
Hats off to Mr. Richardson
*See link for video*
Gunman Azar Sulman is serving a six-year sentence after admitting a spate of robberies
A customer in a Leeds betting office captured an armed robber who threatened to shoot him, a court has heard.
Judo expert Martin Richardson was in the William Hill bookies in Burley on 28 January when the robbery took place.
Twenty-year-old Azar Sulman pointed his gun at Mr Richardson who then knocked him to the floor with a chair and held on to him until police arrived.
Sulman, of Brudenell Road, Leeds, was sent to a young offenders' institution for six years after admitting robbery.
The judge at Leeds Crown Court also sentenced him to six years for two other robberies and an attempted robbery between November 2009 and January 2010.
The sentences are to run concurrently.
We would like to pay tribute to Mr Richardson for his courage and cool-headedness during what must have been an absolutely terrifying experience
Det Insp Neil Thompson, West Yorkshire Police
The court was told that 38-year-old Mr Richardson, the father of Leeds Rhinos rugby league player Ryan Bailey, could now be in line for bravery awards from both West Yorkshire Police and the Association of British Bookmakers.
Judge Scott Wolstenholme awarded him £250 from the public purse for his public spirited actions.
Mr Richardson had been playing the fruit machines in the bookies when Sulman struck shortly before closing time.
He forced the cashier to hand over money but as he tried to flee his escape was blocked by Mr Richardson.
It was only after the incident that police discovered the weapon used by Sulman was a replica handgun.
Det Insp Neil Thompson, of West Yorkshire Police, said: "We would like to pay tribute to Mr Richardson for his courage and cool-headedness during what must have been an absolutely terrifying experience, staring down the barrel of a gun being pointed at him by a masked robber.
"We never encourage members of the public to put themselves at risk by taking on armed criminals but Mr Richardson's brave and public-spirited actions in tackling and detaining this man clearly helped police to take a serial armed robber off the streets and stop him offending again."
Martin Richardson
Azar Sulman
----------------------------------------------------------------
Absolute fearless legend. His son is a brilliant rugby player too!
Hats off to Mr. Richardson
