AN armed robber in a clown’s mask jumped over the counter of a McDonalds restaurant and threatened staff with a knife as he demanded money from the till.
But Zachery Ryan could not have picked a worse time to stage the raid – because as he was carrying it out, two police officers turned up to take their refreshment break.
He was arrested after being disabled by a Taser fired by one of the officers, and at Warwick Crown Court he pleaded guilty to the robbery.
Police today issued a picture of the clown mask used and footage of the incident.
Ryan (41) of no fixed address, was classed as a dangerous offender by Judge Andrew Lockhart QC after hearing that he had a previous conviction for an armed robbery.
He was jailed for five years, of which he will have to serve at least two-thirds before the Parole Board can consider his release – and may have to serve the whole sentence.
Once he is freed, he will be on licence for the rest of the five-years, and for a further three years, during which he can be recalled to prison if his behaviour gives cause for concern.
Prosecutor Tim Sapwell said that at shortly after midnight on August 7, Ryan went into the McDonalds restaurant on the Alvis Retail Park in Holyhead Road, Coventry.
Wearing a clown mask, he jumped over the counter and threatened terrified staff with a knife as he demanded money from the till.
Customers in the fast-food restaurant fled outside – just as two police officers who had been on patrol arrived to take their scheduled refreshment break.
Told by one fleeing customer what was taking place, and that Ryan was armed with a knife, they dashed inside while the robbery was still in progress.
One of the officers fired his Taser at Ryan, who Mr Sapwell said had a previous conviction for armed robbery, for which he had been jailed for 15 years, to disable him, and he was arrested.
Jailing Ryan, Judge Lockhart said the robbery had clearly been planned because he had gone there with the mask and knife, and that he poses a significant risk of causing serious harm by the commission of further offences.
ALL I COULD SEE WAS HIS EYES
West Midlands Police has released dramatic video footage showing the incident unfolding, plus officers’ body-worn video that captures the moment the store manager thanks the cops for coming to the rescue.
He said: “I was in the office having finished my shift when I heard a scream from one of my team. I ran out to find a man in a clown mask holding a big knife…I can remember the light glinting off the blade. All I could see was his eyes.
“He made threats for money and when I told him we only had one till with cash, and that there wasn’t much in it, he got agitated and pushed the knife against my stomach.
“I turned to go back to the office, to buy some time; I knew it was a case of fight or flight and I had a decision to make. But the moment I turned my back I heard a loud crack; I didn’t realise at the time but it was the sound of the police officer’s taser going off.
“One moment I was being threatened at knifepoint and the next the guy was on the floor and in handcuffs. I thought ‘wow’ where did you guys come from. It was like a miracle and perfect timing.
“I’ll always be grateful for what they did that night. They and their colleagues are welcome to pop in for a coffee on their break whenever they like!”
West Midlands Police Detective Inspector Kat Sibley said: “The officers were patrolling shortly after midnight and had stopped on a ‘refs’ break…they were in exactly the right place at the right time.
“Thankfully no-one was hurt and the man has rightly been handed a jail term for what was a nasty robbery.”
