Police thank 'public spirited' people who tackled robbers

Two brothers who terrified staff during a string of robberies at jewellers' shops in West Yorkshire have been jailed for more than 14 years.

William Cochrane, 39 and his brother, Richard, 37, from Halifax, were caught on camera carrying out a ram raid at Neimantas Jewellers in Brighouse along with accomplice Scott Lister in June last year.

The raid was captured on cctv - as was the brave actions of those who tried to stop them - not knowing if the gang was armed.

Bradford Crown Court heard how two days earlier, two female staff at Kingston Jewellers in Halifax had a handgun pointed at them by Lister, accompanied by William Cochrane, during a lunchtime robbery last June.

Last month Lister, 30, was jailed for six years and nine months after he admitted offences of robbery and possession of an imitation firearm. William Cochrane was found guilty of the same offences following a trial.

The judge heard that the Cochrane brothers had amassed nearly 85 previous convictions for more than 200 offences over 25 years.

Detective Inspector Gary Stephenson of Calderdale CID said the men had caused panic and terrified staff at shops across the district and that police were no longer looking for anyone else in connection with a robbery at a jewellers in Hebden Bridge on June 24.