West Sussex man jailed for six years after attempted robbery spree in Surrey

Police say that 21-year-old Ethan Brown committed two attempted robberies within an hour of each other on Wednesday February 21, randomly targeting members of the public.

At around 6pm, Brown, from Northchapel, West Sussex, followed a teenage schoolboy and his sister along Wey Hill, Haslemere, shouting at them before catching up with them, grabbing the boy’s tie and pinning him to a glass shopfront.

He demanded money from the boy and threatened to kill him, raising his fist towards the boy’s face. He only released him after a member of the public repeatedly told him that they had called police.

Less than an hour later, Brown caught up to a man in his 60s on his way home from the shops. He claimed to know him and continually harassed him as the man made his way home, before becoming aggressive and grabbing the victim, wrestling him to the ground and punching and strangling him while demanding money.

A member of the public called police after hearing the victim call for help, and police arrived to find Brown still sat pinning the victim to the ground. He was arrested for both offences and charged with two counts of attempted robbery.

Brown was sentenced to six years and six months in prison at Guildford Crown Court on June 6.

Investigating officer PC Connor Gillard said: “Brown targeted random members of the public who were going about their lives and subjected them to entirely unprovoked aggression and fear.

"I hope that the outcome of this case will reassure residents that we take these offences seriously, and that they will feel safer knowing that Brown is off the streets for a long time.”