A man has been jailed for three years and four months for a £12,200 cash-in-transit robbery outside a Tesco Express in Bradford.

Mohammed Farid threw gravel in the face of a G4S security guard while his accomplice was wielding a hammer, Bradford Crown Court heard today.

Prosecutor Katherine Robinson said the guard went to the ground outside the store on Bolton Road just after 1pm on July 27.

CCTV footage showed Farid’s hammer wielding accomplice running at him and using the weapon to strike the G4S van.

Farid, 23, of Newport Place, Manningham, Bradford, then threw gravel or wood chippings in the guard’s face before the robbers sped off in a red vehicle with the cash cassette.

The guard took the vehicle’s number but it was registered under a false name and address, Miss Robinson said.

The cash cassette was fitted with a tracking device and the police found the getaway vehicle burned out. The cassette was traced to a house in the area and recovered unopened along with a jacket with Farid’s DNA on it.

He made no comment when questioned by the police and went on to plead guilty to the robbery. He was remanded in custody and sentenced on a video link to Leeds Prison.

He had previous convictions for assaulting police officers, battery and possession of offensive weapons.

Farid’s barrister, Andrew Dallas, said he was very remorseful and distressed that a letter he had written to the court had not been delivered.

Mr Dallas said the security guard was uninjured and so could not have been struck by the hammer. His van was scraped by the weapon during the robbery.

Neither Farid nor his accomplice knew what to do with the sophisticated cash cassette they had seized.

Mr Dallas said Farid was under some pressure to join in the robbery because he had run up a drug debt.

“He feels he has been something of a fall guy,” he said.

Although he had been before the courts as a teenager, Farid had kept out of trouble for five years.

He had done agency work at a supermarket in an attempt to lead an honest and decent life.

His weakness for drugs had led to his plans for the future being wrecked.

He had been ill on remand in prison and the victim of an assault, Mr Dallas said.

Judge Colin Burn said the robbery had elements of planning and sophistication.

Farid’s accomplice was armed with a hammer and the getaway vehicle was registered under false details and then burnt out.

Judge Burn said he was taking into account the Covid-19 lockdown regime in prison when fixing the length of the sentence.

Aftre the case, Chris Taylor, G4S Area Risk Consultant said: “This case highlights the dangers cash couriers can face in the course of carrying out the essential role they play in our society. We commend their continued dedication and professionalism.

"We are grateful to West Yorkshire Police for bringing this offender to justice, and hope that the sentence acts as a deterrent to others.”