If Carlsberg did store security: CCTV captures moment have-a-go-hero saves shop workers from gang of Samurai sword-wielding robbers by hurling BEER at them

• Two out of three perpetrators have been sentenced to imprisonment

Dramatic footage shows the moment a have-a-go-hero chased off armed robbers from a shop in Leeds by throwing a crate of beer at them.

The man threw the crate of beer at Jeffrey Chikosha, 25, and Brandon Jarrett, 23, and a third unknown accomplice as they held up a Londis store with Samurai swords.

In the CCTV footage released by West Yorkshire Police, Jarrett can be heard threatening a lone female shop worker telling her: ‘Open the till or you’re gonna get hurt.’

When she struggled to open the till, the masked thug held his weapon up and shouted: ‘Open it or I’m gonna hit you with it.’

The heroic customer, who was being kept at bay on the shopfloor by one of the knife-wielding robbers, challenged Jarrett, who stormed over to threaten him.

Pictured: Brandon Jarrett, 23, was sentenced to six years and nine months imprisonment for three armed robberies and three counts of possession of Samurai swords

Pictured: Jeffrey Chikosha, 25, was sentenced to nine years in prison for three armed robberies and three counts of possession of Samurai swords

Chikosha, who was loading cigarettes into a duvet cover, can then be seen shoving the woman away from the counter as she tried to press the panic alarm.

He then forced open the till with his hands and the pair stole cash and cigarettes while the third man continued to stand guard on the shopfloor.

The customer continued to bravely challenge the trio, telling them: ‘Make it quick and leave.’

He warned them he would start to retaliate by throwing things.

When Jarrett charged over to remonstrate with him again, the man picked up a box of beer bottles above his head and poised to launch it at them.

He can be heard repeatedly shouting at the men to leave before launching the box at them and chasing them from the shop armed with another heavy box.

Despite outnumbering him and being armed with large blades, the three robbers fled from the shop.

The female shop worker was left badly shaken but uninjured after the raid at the store on Wetherby Road, on December 23, 2021. 

Pictured top left corner is the local hero who is about to hurl a box of beers at the armed robbers who were threatening the shop keeper at a Londis in Leeds

In footage released by West Yorkshire Police, an unidentified robber can be seen threatening the local hero with a Samurai swords as his accomplices make their way to the till

Police have described Jarrett and Chikosha as ‘prolific criminals’. 

Due to his knowledge of local criminals, Detective Constable Alan Andrews, of West Yorkshire Police, was able to recognise Chikosha from his walk.

He had also recognised Chikosha’s voice on the CCTV audio at the Londis robbery.

This was later backed up by a specialist voice recognition expert who compared it with a recording from the taxi booking and previous police custody audio.

Jarrett pleaded guilty to the charges and Chikosha was convicted following a trial at Leeds Crown Court.

Chikosha, of Leeds, was jailed for nine years while Jarrett, of Halifax, was sentenced to six years and nine months by Leeds Crown Court on Tuesday.

The terrifying raid was the third time the gang had held up stores in the city in the space of a few weeks.

At 6.20pm on December 13, 2021, they burst into Skelton Wood Post Office and convenience store in White Laithe Approach, Whinmoor.

The lone female shop keeper was threatened by the armed robber repeatedly and shoved by Chikosha. Police have said was left badly shaken but uninjured after the raid at the store on Wetherby Road, on December 23, 2021

Chikosha can be seen shoving the woman away from the counter as she tried to press the panic alarm

They climbed over the counter and threatened frightened staff before escaping in a waiting car with cash from the tills and cigarettes and alcohol.

The robbers struck again at about the same time of day on December 23, 2021, when they targeted the Londis store.

And at 6.45pm on December 29, 2021, the gang struck at the Co-op in Selby Road again masked and armed with swords.

Jarrett stood guard at the entrance wielding a sword while Chikosha and a third man took cash from the tills and emptied the shelves of cigarettes and tobacco.

Police discovered Jarrett and Chikosha had called a taxi from a nearby location ten minutes after the offence, which dropped Chikosha off close to his address.

Jarrett had worn a distinctive coat during the crime spree which was recovered at a family address following his arrest, a police spokesman said.

They denied any involvement when interviewed by police, but both were charged with the three armed robberies and three counts of possession of Samurai swords.

Chikosha forced open the till with his hands after the shop keeper was left in a state of panic and unable to comply with his demands

 The masked-pair stole cash and cigarettes while the third man continued to stand guard

 The pair had previously been jailed in May 2021 for their role in stealing vehicles in Leeds using software to overcome their security systems.

Speaking after sentencing, Detective Inspector Vicky Vessey praised the bravery of the customer.

She said: ‘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.

‘Jarrett and Chikosha are prolific criminals who were responsible for this series of armed robberies that saw the victims put through really frightening ordeals.

‘They were masked and armed with Samurai swords during these incidents and the victims were put in genuine fear that they could get seriously hurt.

‘We do not underestimate the traumatic impact that these incidents will have had on them.

‘The footage from the robbery at the Londis store shows very starkly what a terrifying experience this was for those involved.

‘We know that offenders like them brag about “no face, no case” if they wear masks while committing offences, but DC Andrews’ detailed knowledge of local criminals and investigative skills have shown them that their arrogance is misplaced.’

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