Shop worker seriously injured as have-a-go staff tackle robbers

Police said a 42-year-old shop worker was attacked and seriously injured during an attempt to rob a shop in Stanningley Road, Leeds, just after 2pm on Saturday.

Last night the victim was said to be in a critical condition in Leeds General Infirmary.

A police forensic tent was placed outside Stanningley Wines off-licence as detectives and forensic experts carried out their work.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said three men entered the shop and attempted to steal property before being challenged by staff.

A 22-year-old local man was arrested by police.

The incident has echoes of the attack on Huddersfield shopkeeper Gurmail Singh, who died after a robbery at his village store in February last year in a case which caused national outrage.

Mr Singh, 63, refused to simply hand over his hard-earned money when a group of men walked into his store and tried to steal cash, cigarettes and alcohol.

The men grabbed the nearest weapons to hand – bottles of wine from the shelves – and attacked him.

Last night local councillors said they were shocked by the Stanningley Road incident.

Coun Ted Hanley, who represents the Bramley and Stanningley ward, said: “It is absolutely disgraceful that this goes on. My immediate thoughts are with the family of the injured person.”

Coun Hanley said he hoped to visit the family of the injured shop worker as soon as it was possible.

Passers-by who witnessed the aftermath of the robbery described seeing a man in handcuffs being carried away on a stretcher.

One woman said: “Police had someone on the ground, who looked injured. I saw someone being stretchered away. His hands were in the air and in handcuffs.”