CCTV shows moment armed robber threatens terrified Tesco worker

An armed robber who stole money at gunpoint from a supermarket in Birmingham has been jailed for eight years.

Ayoub Adchiri, 20, was caught on camera demanding money from a member of staff at Tesco in the Hodge Hill area of the city, while pointing what appears to be a black handgun.

The weapon was later confirmed to be a fake.

The worker was serving customers, including a child, when Adchiri stole cash at the store off Coleshill Road on June 4 this year.

After fleeing with the cash, Adchiri approached a female shopper in the car park and threatened her with the gun and a knife, forcing the woman and her passenger to get out of the Vauxhall Corsa.

After Adchiri drove off, police were called and saw the Corsa speeding on the wrong side of the road before it crashed into another car in Bradford Road, Castle Bromwich.

Adchiri was arrested and officers recovered the knife and an imitation firearm.

Police found cash in his pocket and CCTV footage confirmed he was behind the Tesco robbery.

Adchiri, of Oldbury, West Midlands, pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery and possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

He also admitted threatening someone with a bladed article, dangerous driving and without having insurance or a licence

Detective Sergeant Tom Lyons, said: ‘Adchiri had directly threatened two people, stolen cash, a car and caused what could have been a serious collision in under 20 minutes.

‘He put others in fear of their lives as they, understandably, believed it was a real gun and Adchiri had threatened to use it.

‘He appeared to get even more aggressive as he also produced a knife on the second robbery; and then put lives at risk through his reckless driving.

‘Officers were promptly on the scene to arrest him following the collision and CCTV confirmed he was responsible for the crime spree. A dangerous man is now behind bars for a significant period.’