Watch as 18st customer flattens shop raider with a chair

Martin Richardson, 48, the father of Leeds Rhinos star and Great Britain international Ryan Bailey, 26, disarmed Azar Sulman – who had a fake handgun – as he tried to make off with cash from a William Hill branch in Leeds in January.

The former judo ace and father-of-six, who weighs 18st, then pinned him down until the police arrived.

Speaking from hospital after breaking his arm during a match for Woodhouse Warriors, Mr Richardson said he was playing on the slots in the Hyde Park Road branch when Sulman came in.

"I thought it was someone messing about but when I realised it was real I was shocked," he said.

"I went out to look for anyone else helping him, and when I walked back in he threatened to shoot me. That's when I lost it because I hate to be threatened.

"The adrenaline was running as I picked up the chair but once I had him down I started to shake because it hit home how dangerous it was.

"He was a bit taller than me, but skinny, and he didn't really struggle once I had him down. That seven minutes was probably the longest of my life."

Sulman, 20, of Brudenell Road, Headingley, was sentenced to six years in a young offender institution on Wednesday for a series of raids on bookmakers, pleading guilty to three charges of robbery and one of attempted robbery.

Mr Richardson added: "I was in a bad mood because I had been in the bookies for hours and I hadn't won at all so he picked a bad time to come in and say that. To be honest, I was probably a bit stupid doing what I did but I was being threatened as were staff and I wanted to stop the guy. I did, so it was worth it."

William Hill security manager Trevor Wilkinson said: "We want to praise Martin, but we do not advocate that other people try to do what he did because not everyone is built like Martin. He did fantastically well."