Skip to content
Search
AI Powered
Latest Stories

Police praise Leeds c-store worker for tackling gun-wielding robber

Police praise Leeds c-store worker for tackling gun-wielding robber
Image from West Yorkshire Police/Youtube

The Police have praised the shop worker of One Stop store in Leeds who tackled a "desperate and dangerous" gun-wielding man on robbing spree in July last year. The accused has been given jail sentence.

According to BBC, Marlon Stewart, who had threatened six people and stolen a car, was tackled by shop worker when Niall Stranix after the former demanded money in the store. Stewart has been was jailed for 10 years and four months.


After the sentencing at Leeds Crown Court on Monday (17), Det Insp Ryan Malyk said Stranix had shown "incredible bravery".

West Yorkshire police stated in a statement that while we always advise members of the public in such situations to think of their safety first, we must recognise the incredible bravery that Niall Stranix showed in making the decision to tackle him while he was threatening his female colleague.

“Despite not knowing if the gun he was holding was real or not, he showed tremendous courage in taking him on and it was his actions that directly led to Stewart’s face being captured on CCTV and him being identified as the suspect," Detective Inspector Ryan Malyk, of Leeds District CID, said.

West Yorkshire Police said on July 19 last year Stewart had committed 13 crimes in the space of about 20 minutes, including threatening three 19-year-old males in Chapel Allerton Park before robbing two of them of their mobile phones.

Stewart then demanded cash from a shop worker at a Premier shop in Lidgett Lane, before also threatening a customer and stealing her car.

Police said minutes later Stewart entered the One Stop store in nearby Chandos Gardens, and pointed a pistol at a "terrified" woman behind the counter.

Stranix, who was mopping the shop floor, then grabbed Stewart in a headlock and held onto him, despite getting injured on the head twice with a bottle. Stewart eventually broke free and fled the scene empty-handed, police said though due to the scuffle, the accused's face was captured on CCTV which helped the cops to identify and nab him.

The pistol had started to break apart as the two fought and was later believed to have been a plastic BB gun, officers added. Further enquiries to locate him resulted in his arrest on September 29.

Stewart was charged with four counts of robbery, one of attempted robbery, five counts of possession of a firearm while committing a robbery, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.

Det Insp Malyk, of Leeds District CID, said that Stewart put all these victims through some really frightening experiences when he carried out these robberies over a very short space of time. He was clearly desperate and dangerous, and those who encountered him were put in genuine fear when he confronted them at gunpoint.
“We hope that the significant prison sentence that Stewart has received will provide some comfort to all the victims as well as some reassurance to the wider community to know that he is safely off the streets.”

Stewart was jailed for 10 years and four months with an extended licence period of five years.

More for you

Wrexham Go Local Extra fascia store

Go Local Extra opens in Wrexham

Wrexham gets its first Go Local Extra

A Wrexham convenience retailer has opened a new Go Local Extra fascia store, the first of its kind in the city.

After extensive interior and exterior refurbishments, the new-look store provides healthy competition to a competitor convenience store next door. Value-for-money offers, and an inviting layout are attracting customers, and the store is performing exceptionally well, with sales increasing significantly weekly.

With over 26 years of experience and two other successful convenience stores in Wrexham, Subash Subakaran was operating under the Premier fascia for most of that time, but he wanted a change with his latest retail venture.

The 2,000-square-foot store on Prince Charles Road received over £200k in investment and was transformed into a Go Local Extra store from an empty unit previously used as a Co-op.

The new store features a food-to-go offering including coffee and slushes, fresh groceries, well-stocked chillers, a completely new counter area, new lighting and shelving units, and an extensive beer, wines, and spirits section with a dedicated walk-in ‘beer cave’ and separate ‘soft drinks cave.’

Keep ReadingShow less
Dudley Ramsden

Dudley Ramsden

Tributes pour in for wholesale 'pioneer force' Dudley Ramsden

Tributes are pouring in for wholesale and convenience veteran Dudley Ramsden who passed away recently. He was 81.

Ramsden was instrumental in establishing the Ramsden Group, Nisa Retail, and the Today’s Group wholesale buying group.

Keep ReadingShow less
Police officers in Trafalgar Square, London
Police officers in Trafalgar Square, London
Photo: iStock

Government doubles neighbourhood policing fund amid surge in retail crime

The Home Office has announced a significant boost in funding for neighbourhood policing, doubling its previous commitment from £100 million to £200 million.

This move aims to kickstart the recruitment of 13,000 additional neighbourhood police officers across England and Wales, with the goal of meeting this target by 2029.

Keep ReadingShow less
EG Group
Photo: EG Group
Photo: EG Group

EG On The Move to emerge as 'retail powerhouse' as Applegreen UK acquisition completes

EG On The Move has completed its acquisition of Applegreen UK’s convenience and fuel retail network, adding 98 sites and approximately 40 foodservice concessions to its portfolio.

The deal, described by EG On The Move as a move to "create a retail powerhouse" in the independent petrol forecourt sector, underscores the company's strategic push to broaden its UK footprint.

Keep ReadingShow less
Rappers' new supermarket to help ethnic community 'feel seen'

Rappers' new supermarket to help ethnic community 'feel seen'

The British rappers, who recently announced the opening of a new supermarket, states that they were tired of going from shop to shop in their hometown to find the culturally diverse products they need and decided to take matters into their own hands.

The new supermarket named Saveways opened today (1).

Keep ReadingShow less