Good Samaritans who chased and captured cash-point robbers receive reward

Paul Smith and John Layton robbed a 40-year-old cyclist as he withdrew cash from a machine on Sheffield Road, Whittington Moor, just after midnight on August 17.

They pushed him to the ground and took cash from his hand before running off, pursued by two passers-by who had witnessed the robbery.

The men held onto the robbers while another member of the public called 999. Layton managed to break free but Smith was arrested at the scene. Layton was arrested later once he was identified on CCTV.

Smith,40, of Mercaston Close, Holme Hall, was sentenced to 32 months in prison for robbery while Layton,31, of Sydney Street, Chesterfield, was jailed for two years and four months for robbery, assault and using threating or abusive language.

The pair admitted the charges and were sentenced at Derby Crown Court on Thursday, September 15.

The court ordered that both witnesses should be paid £450 each as a reward.

Officer in the case DC Katherine Hewitt said: “The two witnesses should be praised for their courage and quick-thinking. They instinctively ran to the victim’s aid and ensured that not only were the robbers brought to justice but that the victim got his money back.”