Notts Police have commended a taxi driver after two armed robbers he tackled at a Nottinghamshire petrol station have been jailed for more than a combined 10 years.
Otis Kirby, 20, of Chatsworth Road in Chesterfield, was locked up for five years and three months after pleading guilty to robbery and possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.
He was sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court on Tuesday September 12.
At the same court yesterday (Monday October 9) Richard Dowdall, 27, of no fixed address, was also jailed for five years and three months after pleading guilty to robbery and possession of a bladed article.
Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Sergeant Ricky Ellis said: “Although we’d never condone members of the public taking the law into their own hands and putting themselves in harm’s way, we commend the bravery shown by the community-minded taxi driver who confronted the robbers.
“As a result, we were able to recover items from the scene which assisted with our swift arrests of Kirby and Dowdall.
“This was an extremely terrifying ordeal for the petrol station worker who was confronted by the men.
“We hope today’s sentencing provides some comfort and reassurance now that Kirby and Dowdall are off the streets.”
The court heard Kirby and Dowdall, both wearing masks, entered the Castelle Service Station on Sherwood Street in Warsop at 7.20am on August 5.
Kirby was brandishing a gun and Dowdall, of no fixed address, had a knife as they demanded money from the till.
The court heard a taxi driver pulled onto the petrol station forecourt as the robbery was taking place.
He decided to intervene and wrestled with the pair but they managed to escape and run off.
As a result of the scuffle, Kirby left behind a trainer, baseball cap and an imitation firearm.
Officers were able to forensically link Kirby to the robbery via DNA on the cap and trainer left at the scene.
