Public’s bravery praised

behind the wheel of the Jaguar during the tea-time attack in Brighouse.

After he reversed the car into the front window of the shop, his 37-year-old brother Richard, along with and Scott Lister, jumped out and snatched watches.

Richard Cochrane, who admitted involvement in the Neimantas robbery, was jailed for five years.

At the time of the robberies the Cochrane brothers were on bail for a burglary at Lidl in Sowerby Bridge.

They each received six-month prison sentences as part of their total jail terms for the burglary.

Last month Lister, 30, was jailed for six years and nine months after admitting offences of robbery and possession of an imitation firearm.

William Cochrane was found guilty of the same offences following a trial, but his barrister said he still maintained his innocence.

All three men were arrested at a block of flats in West Parade, Halifax, and a judge heard that the Cochrane brothers had amassed nearly 85 previous convictions for over 200 offences over 25 years.

Barrister Emma Downing, for both men, said neither had any previous convictions for robbery matters.

Jailing the pair, Judge Colin Burn said the ram-raid style attack had involved the use of “overwhelming and intimidating force.”

“The owner of the shop was just coming through the shop from the back when he saw the front of his shop destroyed by this Jaguar car,” the judge told the men.

Det Insp Gary Stephenson said: “I would also once again like to commend the selflessness shown by the public-spirited people of Brighouse as they made efforts to apprehend the suspects, even though they were believed to have been in possession of weapons.

“Their bravery and courageous actions prevented further loss and assisted in the gathering of vital evidence.”