Dramatic moment knife-wielding robber bursts into McDonald’s wearing terrifying clown mask

This is the dramatic moment a knife-wielding robber bursts into a McDonald’s wearing a terrifying clown mask before he’s tasered by police.

Zachery Ryan, 41, was caught by two police officers who had popped into a busy restaurant in Coventry on a coffee break.

Heart-stopping CCTV shows Ryan burst into the McDonald’s at midnight on August 7 before threatening the manager and pressing an eight-inch blade to his stomach before ordering him to open the tills.

He was caught when the officers spotted him and one tasered him before the other handcuffed him and bundled him into the kitchen.

Zachery Ryan, of no fixed address, 41, admitted robbery and was jailed for five years at Warwick Crown Court yesterday

Ryan wore this terrifying clown mask as he burst into a Coventry McDonald’s and demanded that staff open the tills

Ryan, of no fixed address, admitted robbery and was jailed for five years at Warwick Crown Court yesterday.

Judge Andrew Lockhart QC said: ‘The robbery had clearly been planned because he had gone there with the mask and knife.

‘He poses a significant risk of causing serious harm by the commission of further offences.’

The court heard Ryan had a previous conviction for armed robbery when he was jailed for 15 years.

West Midlands Police also released bodycam footage worn by one of the hero officers following Ryan’s arrest.

In the video, Ryan can be seen handcuffed on the floor of the kitchen.

The relieved 28-year-old manager approaches the officer and says: ‘Where did you guys come from? Thank you very much.’

The office replies: ‘It’s alright mate, we were just coming in for a drink, we were just there.’

 Heart-stopping CCTV shows Ryan burst into the McDonald’s at midnight on August 7 before threatening the manager and pressing an eight-inch blade

He was caught when the officers spotted him and one tasered him before the other handcuffed him and bundled him into the kitchen

Recalling the robbery, the manager said: ‘I was in the office having finished my shift when I heard a scream from one of my team.

‘I ran out to find a man in a clown mask holding a big knife. I can remember the light glinting off the blade. All I could see was his eyes.

‘He made threats for money and when I told him we only had one till with cash, and that there wasn’t much in it, he got agitated and pushed the knife against my stomach.

‘I turned to go back to the office, to buy some time; I knew it was a case of fight or flight and I had a decision to make.

‘But the moment I turned my back I heard a loud crack; I didn’t realise at the time but it was the sound of the police officer’s taser going off.

‘One moment I was being threatened at knifepoint and the next the guy was on the floor and in handcuffs.

‘I thought “wow” where did you guys come from. It was like a miracle and perfect timing.

‘I’ll always be grateful for what they did that night. They and their colleagues are welcome to pop in for a coffee on their break whenever they like!’

Detective Inspector Kat Sibley said: ‘The officers were patrolling shortly after midnight and had stopped on a ‘refs’ break. They were in exactly the right place at the right time.

‘Thankfully no-one was hurt and the man has rightly been handed a jail term for what was a nasty robbery.’