Villagers take down post office raiders

The robbers burst into Ditchling post office and demanded cash from the till.

But they were chased and caught by staff and a small army of villagers after the crooks crashed their getaway car as they tried to escape.

The posse followed Ismael Mansaray, 19, and Lakeem Harrison, 17, through village streets after the raid on December 4.

And they managed to capture the fugitives and held onto them until police arrived.

Despite their bravery postmaster David Holmes, 47, his wife Clare and children Katie, seven, James, four, and sub-postmistress Daphne Perkis were left traumatised by their ordeal At Hove Crown Court today Mansaray was jailed for four years and Harrison for three-and-a-half-years.

Mansaray, of Burnley Road, Stockwell, South London, admitted robbery and stealing a car.

Harrison, of James Boswell Close, Streatham, South London, admitted robbery.

Judge Cedric Joseph said the victims had been subjected to a terrifying ordeal by the pair.

Alan Gardner, prosecuting, said: "Both had scarves pulled up over their lower faces.

"Harrison had his hand in his pocket and said everyone should get on the floor.

"He shouted to Mansaray to 'shoot the bitch', referring to Mrs Holmes, although no gun was seen.

"Mansaray said to Mrs Holmes, 'Don't look at me, you know what will happen if you look at me'.

"Harrison seized £175 in cash from the till and they left."

Mr Gardner said Mrs Holmes had pushed her daughter into the kitchen when she realised what was happening.

She crouched down over her son to shield him from the raiders.

Both children could still hear what was going on and were left shocked by the ordeal.

The court heard they are still frightened and have asked if the raiders will be cross with them and come back again when they get out of prison.

Mr Gardner said the robbers fled from the post office and ran to their getaway vehicle in the car park of The Bull pub nearby.

They tried to speed off but lost control of the car and crashed it into a wall opposite the post office.

Electrician James Baker, 32, had been working in the flat above the shop when he realised it had been robbed.

He told The Argus at the time: "I was calling the police when they ran past me.

"Then I saw Clare, she was like a headless banshee screaming up the road, 'Stop them'.

"David was furiously trying to stop the car, grabbing a wing mirror and trying to smash the window with it.

"Clare grabbed a woman in a 4x4 driving her children home from school and got her to block them in.

"They must have panicked and went into the wall opposite.

"They got out, dropping the bag of money and I just ran at one of them."

Other villagers then joined in, chasing the robbers down West Street and into Keymer Road before trapping them.

John Ferdinando, 58, of South Street, Ditchling watched the chase.

He said: "The whole thing was like the Keystone Cops. It was the bungled burglary of the century.

"There were about ten villagers chasing at one point."

Barristers for both defendants said the raid in Ditchling was not pre-planned.

It was claimed they had stopped off there to buy petrol and food on the way to Brighton and decided to rob it on the spur of the moment.

Judge Cedric Joseph said he did not believe that the raid was not planned.

He added: "This was an extremely terrifying experience for the postmaster and his wife, a member of staff and two young children.

"It is quite clear that what you did has had a traumatic effect on all those people.

"People who work in small sub-post offices are extremely vulnerable to attacks of this kind.

"The courts must pass substantial prison sentences to deter others."

Detective Sergeant Mark O'Brien, of Sussex Police, welcomed the sentences and praised the villagers' bravery.

He said: "It is clear both offenders did not predict the response.

"I would like to thank the victims and members of the public who were passing through the village for their intervention.

"I am pleased that they were prepared to have a go."