Post Office heroes get bravery award
Published: June 1, 2006
THE bravery of Post Office staff at Ilkley who tackled an armed robber has been recognised with a police award.
Postmaster Edward Sample and staff members Carol Sienkiewicz and Yvonne Kierman were awarded Certificates of Merit for their actions, which resulted in the arrest and subsequent conviction of the offender.
Last November, a 21-year-old man wearing a devil mask entered the main post office at the Station Plaza brandishing a handgun. He pointed it in the face of Mr Sample but before he could make any demands, the postmaster grappled with the man and grabbed his gun-carrying arm.
A violent struggle ensured and Mr Sample, realising the other man was the stronger and that he could be hurt unless he took drastic action, got the offender in a headlock, and rammed his head into a wall. The robber fell to the ground.
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In the meantime, a staff member who was on the phone to the police on the phone, told the operator that things were getting out of hand and she was going to help her colleague.
While the robber was on the floor, Mr Sample sat on his upper body and Mrs Sienkiewicz and Mrs Kierman sat on his legs and back.
This was the scene met by police on their arrival and the man was arrested and a BB gun - very realistic’, said police - was recovered. The robber was subsequently jailed for four years at Bradford Crown Court.
Judge James Stewart QC praised the immense courage’ of the post office staff and said that Mr Sample had not known the gun wasn’t loaded.
“They have the admiration of the court for the courage and determination they showed, ” he said. The judge awarded all three £100 each from public funds.
After the court case, Mrs Sienkiewicz, who lives at Silsden, was asked what was going through her mind during the attempted robbery. She said: “I was absolutely terrified - it was awful, it really was.
“Ted was grappling with him when I came into the office. I rang the police and Ted had him down and had taken the gun off him.”
She said that Mrs Kierman was lying across his legs, but the robber was still thrashing about, so she took off her shoe and sat on him as well.
Mrs Sienkiewicz added: “I don’t know if I would do the same thing again. If someone came and pointed a gun at me I probably wouldn’t but when someone needs help, you just get stuck in.”
She and Mr Sample received their certificates for bravery from Chief Supt Simon Willsher at the Leighley Police Divisional Awards evening at the Ramada Jarvis Hotel, Bingley Mrs Kierman was unable to attend.
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