A security guard was attacked from behind as he was collecting cash and fought back, managing to pull off the attacker’s glove. The robber was sentenced to four years and eight months after the police solved the crime based on the DNA evidence on the attacker’s glove.

Ross O’Riely, 38, attacked a security guard as he was collecting cash from Sainsbury’s petrol station on Turners Hill at midday on Thursday April 20.

The security guard, who was attacked from behind, fought back and managed to pull off O’Riely’s glove.

O’Riely broke free and ran off with a cash box containing money, escaping on a waiting motorbike.

The following month O’Riely was arrested in Warwickshire for dangerous driving in a vehicle on false plates flagged as being connected to the crime.

He was linked to the robbery from DNA obtained from the glove along with other evidence police had gathered.

The 38-year-old was sentenced to four years and eight months after pleading guilty to robbery at Wolverhampton Crown Court on 22 June.

He was also sentenced to 10 months for dangerous driving to run concurrently and was disqualified from driving for 40 months.

The police praised the security guard’s bravery which helped solve the crime.

DC Benjamin Lyttleton said: “This was a brazen robbery committed in broad daylight.

“As he had a motorbike parked nearby to make a swift getaway, this was clearly something that Ross O’Reily had been planning.

“What he clearly didn’t expect was the resistance put up by the security guard.

“Thanks to his bravery, we were quickly able to link O’Riely to the crime from the DNA sample we extracted from the glove the security guard managed to grab.

“We swiftly charged him and we’re pleased to see him behind bars for the offence.”