Reward for have-a-go hero who chased thief

A SHOPKEEPER who chased a thief has been given a £200 reward for his bravery.

Pardeep Gil set off in pursuit of Thomas Hanslip after seeing him snatch cash from another customer in the queue at a shop in Belle Vue Road, Leeds.

Hanslip – who was on licence from prison for robbery at the time of the incident – grabbed the cash from his victim as he stood behind her.

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Matthew Donkin, prosecuting, told Leeds Crown Court yesterday that she was about to hand over 400 to pay bills when Hanslip snatched the money and ran from the store on June 26 this year.

Mr Gil and another member of staff gave chase. The shopkeeper caught up with Hanslip, 26, and they both fell down an embankment.

Hanslip suffered minor injuries in the fall and when Mr Gil demanded the money he threw most of the banknotes to the floor before running away.

Mr Gil went back to the shop with the 340 he had recovered.

The incident was caught on CCTV and Hanslip was arrested after he was recognised at a hostel. He admitted carrying out the offence and said he was drunk at the time. He pleaded guilty to theft in court.

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Hanslip was jailed for four years and nine months at Bradford Crown Court in 2008 for the knifepoint robbery of his neighbour and was only released on licence in March. He has since been recalled to prison.

Neil Clarke, for Hanslip, said he had suffered depression and anxiety and had problems with alcohol.

Jailing Hanslip for 18 months, Judge Kerry Macgill said of Mr Gil: "I think he is a very brave and determined man for pursuing him and should be rewarded from the public purse."

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