Off-duty Leeds policeman helped catch wanted robbers while doing his weekly shop – then caught them again when they fled the court

An off-duty officer who arrested a knife-wielding robber while doing his weekly shop – then caught them again when he and his accomplices later jumped the dock and fled the court.
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Pc Neil Masheder ran towards danger despite having no protective clothing or weapons when he saw a car leave a supermarket car park in Leeds which he knew was being driven by three robbers who thought they were playing "a real life game of Grand Theft Auto".

The Leeds officer has now been nominated for a National Police Bravery Award for the spontaneous act of heroism.

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He had parked in the car park to do his weekly shop on September 10 last year when he spotted the Seat Leon parked in a disabled bay with two occupants inside, which he instantly recognised as the same car reported stolen and used in two knifepoint robberies.

Pc Neil MashederPc Neil Masheder
Pc Neil Masheder

The car had been used in the knifepoint robbery of a man and a robbery at a convenience store in Kirklees, as well as a burglary in which two other cars had been stolen.

In the convenience store robbery, the men had dragged two female shop staff into the office threatening to hurt them to get them to open the safe and hand over cash.

The burglary meanwhile involved the men threatening to stab a woman as they took her car keys and jewellery at her Gildersome home. Her cars were found later that afternoon, but the men in the Seat Leon remained at large with a false number plate to avoid detection.

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Now it was parked right in front of Pc Masheder, who immediately alerted his on-duty colleagues.

Pc Masheder helped catch the three robbers for a second time when they fled the dock at Leeds Crown Court after being convicted of the crimesPc Masheder helped catch the three robbers for a second time when they fled the dock at Leeds Crown Court after being convicted of the crimes
Pc Masheder helped catch the three robbers for a second time when they fled the dock at Leeds Crown Court after being convicted of the crimes

As he did, the driver returned to the car and began to drive off.

Pc Masheder quickly tried to stop the car from leaving, getting into a violent struggle with the driver as the two accomplices fled the scene.

Getting the driver under control, on-duty officers arrived on the scene to arrest him. The two accomplices were also found and arrested.

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Pc Masheder helped to catch the three men again, after they were convicted following a nine-day trial at Leeds Crown Court in March and jumped the dock, escaping from the court building.

Pc Masheder helped catch the three robbers for a second time when they fled the dock at Leeds Crown Court after being convicted of the crimesPc Masheder helped catch the three robbers for a second time when they fled the dock at Leeds Crown Court after being convicted of the crimes
Pc Masheder helped catch the three robbers for a second time when they fled the dock at Leeds Crown Court after being convicted of the crimes

They were pursued by officers who had been at court, including PC Masheder, and all were quickly detained, with two of them having fled two miles away to the Hyde Park area.

All three were charged with escaping lawful custody. They were jailed for a total of 52 years for all their crimes in May 2020.

West Yorkshire Police Federation Chair Brian Booth commended PC Masheder’s actions.

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“If Neil hadn’t bravely intervened on his day off, they would have gone on to carry a lot more violent crime," said Mr Booth.

“It’s especially impressive given he had no PPE or means of detaining them apart from his determination and dedication.

“These three violent and despicable criminals were playing a real-life game of Grand Theft Auto. They were armed and dangerous and had already robbed and threatened several people at knifepoint.

"Neil is a very worthy West Yorkshire nominee in The National Police Bravery Awards.”

The National Police Bravery Awards honour officers from across England and Wales who have performed outstanding acts of bravery while on or off duty.