WATCH the moment CCTV catches robbers in botched Asda Darlaston raid
CCTV footage of the moment when three bungling robbers were foiled by their own greed during a supermarket attack has been released by police.
The raid at Asda in Darlaston had to be abandoned after the three assailants had filled a builder's bag with so many cigarette packs they could not lift it around the pay kiosk.
The shop's close-circuit TV cameras show the robbery in its entirety - from the terrifying instant when one of the men leaps over the counter waving a large wrench at a security guard sitting behind the till to the moment when they flee the store leaving their bag of booty behind.
The alarmed guard puts up his arms to protect himself and falls to his knees but he is hauled to his feet by his attacker and dragged to another part of the store.
Another clip shows him being led back to the kiosk, where the other two gang members are emptying the cigarette shelves, and told to lie on the floor. Police pounced shortly afterwards as the gang struggled with the hefty haul.
The footage shows one of the men trying to pull the builder's bag around the kiosk before giving up and fleeing. The hapless gang have since been jailed for a combined total of 14 years.
Lee Anslow, of no fixed address, Paul Ferguson, of Talbot Place, Wolverhampton, and Reece Jones, of Windsor Road, Tipton, stormed into Asda in St Lawrence Way, Darlaston on December 15 last year, with Anslow wielding the wrench.
At Wolverhampton Crown Court last week, they sat smirking side by side during their sentencing. Prosecutor Nicholas Smith told the court that the robbery took place at 4.45pm when the three men arrived at Asda in a stolen Ford Focus.
Gerard McKierney was working as the security guard at the store. Anslow was the first person who entered the store carrying a wrench.
MORE: The trio get 14 years in jail
He climbed on top of the counter and told the security guard to get down.
He was waving the wrench around and so the guard did what he said. The other two followed him inside with a large builders bag and started filling it with cigarettes.
In total, it was filled with around £9,000 of cigarettes. The bag was so full, they couldn't lift it above the counter, and had to abandon it as police arrived. The three defendants tried to escape from officers. One caught up with Anslow and tried to arrest him, but a violent struggle ensued.
The officer hit his knees on the kerbside and had to go to hospital afterwards. Eventually, more officers arrived and Anslow was subdued. The other two also tried to escape but were caught more quickly. The driver of the Ford Focus fled and has not been identified since."
Mr Smith also outlined the previous records of the trio, pointing out that Anslow has a string of burglaries as well as aggravated vehicle taking and an ASBO breach among a lengthy list in his life of crime. All three previously pleaded guilty to robbery on February 12.
Judge Kristina Montgomery QC told the men: "This robbery was well planned out, if not well executed.
"You all wore masks, you had a getaway car waiting and you carried it out when it was dark outside. "Mr Anslow, you took on the role of enforcer. I wouldn't go as far as label you the ringleader, you simply carried out a role, but you did so with considerable gusto. You wielded the wrench in a way significant enough to make the security guard feel he was in danger.
"None of you surrendered yourselves. You all played an equal part in this. Messrs Anslow and Ferguson have utterly deplorable previous records.
"You were foiled by your own greed."
Anslow, 28, was sentenced to four years and 10 months, Ferguson, 35, for four years and eight months and Jones, 21, for four years and seven months.
Detective Sergeant Rich Whitehouse said: "The footage clearly shows the fear that these men put their victim through and all for no return. "No-one should be subjected to this at their place of work and I am pleased that these men are behind bars."
