Nottinghamshire driver sees robbers jailed for 10 years

This is the heroic moment a passing taxi driver took on two armed robbers trying to hold up a petrol station – making sure they were put behind bars for 10 years.

Karl Holden pulled onto the forecourt of a garage in Nottinghamshire on the morning of August 5 when he spotted the robbery taking place.

He saw Richard Dowdall and Otis Kirby run into the petrol station with scarves over their faces carrying a knife and a gun.

Despite them being armed he grappled with both masked men as they tried to escape.

This is the moment taxi driver Karl Holden (far right) grappled with two armed robbers as they held up a petrol station in Nottinghamshire 

Mr Holden didn't manage to catch Richard Dowdall and Otis Kirby but his intervention meant they left behind the gun and clothes at the scene, which made them easier to trace 

Mr Holden didn’t manage to catch Richard Dowdall and Otis Kirby but his intervention meant they left behind the gun and clothes at the scene, which made them easier to trace 

They managed to get away, but Mr Holden managed to hold them up, meaning their faces were captured on CCTV and police were able to track them down. 

They also left the gun, a baseball cap and a shoe at the scene, allowing officers to trace Kirby’s DNA. 

Dowdall, 27, and Kirby, 20, were jailed for five years each yesterday after admitting robbery and possession of a bladed article and imitation firearm at Nottingham Crown Court.

Tristan King, the owner of the garage in Warsop, Nottinghamshire commended Mr Holden’s courageous actions.

He said: ‘He told me he thought something was not quite right so he parked right in front of the door.

Kirby and Dowdall were jailed for five years each at Nottingham Crown Court yesterday

Kirby and Dowdall were jailed for five years each at Nottingham Crown Court yesterday

Petrol station manager Tristan King praised Mr Holden's actions and said he would be getting a reward 

Petrol station manager Tristan King praised Mr Holden’s actions and said he would be getting a reward 

Mr Holden grappled with the pair despite them being armed with a knife and a gun 

Mr Holden grappled with the pair despite them being armed with a knife and a gun 

‘By that point they were just about to leave, so he tackled them and went for the guy with the gun first.

‘He managed to get hold of them and roughed them up a bit.

‘Honestly, the CCTV footage looks like something out of an action film.

‘His actions meant we could get a better look at their faces on CCTV – thanks to this hero of a man who put his life at risk.’

Mr King added: ‘It was an awful thing for our staff to have to go through but we want to celebrate what Karl has done and will be giving him a reward.’ 

The court heard that Kirby and Dowdall entered Castelle Service Station at around 7.20am on August 5.

Richard Dowdall (pictured) was jailed for five years at Nottinghamshire Crown Court for robbery and possession of a bladed article

Otis Kirby (pictured) was jailed for five years at Nottinghamshire Crown Court for robbery and possession of an imitation firearm

Richard Dowdall (pictured left) was sentenced to five years in prison, while his 

Kirby, of Chesterfield, brandished a firearm, while Dowdall, of no fixed address, had a knife as they demanded money from the till.

Speaking after Dowdall’s 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 both Kirby and Dowdall are off the streets.’

Mr King said the thieves only got away with about £100 – as that was the most cash ever kept on site.  

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk