Horsham robbery: 'brave and heroic' police officers praised for catching balaclava man

By The Newsroom
Published 2nd Nov 2018, 10:35 BST
Updated 2nd Nov 2018, 11:41 BST
CCTV captures the moment Owen Smith - wearing a balaclava - attacked the police officer in the drivers' seat. Pictures and video: Sussex PoliceCCTV captures the moment Owen Smith - wearing a balaclava - attacked the police officer in the drivers' seat. Pictures and video: Sussex Police
CCTV captures the moment Owen Smith - wearing a balaclava - attacked the police officer in the drivers' seat. Pictures and video: Sussex Police
A balaclava-clad robber's attack on a police officer as he tried to steal her car has been condemned as 'abhorrent and unforgivable'.

Shocking CCTV footage released by police shows Owen Smith trying to steal a police car to get away after robbing a Horsham Tesco.

Smith, 29, appeared at Hove Crown Court on Tuesday and was jailed 10 years, with an additional four year licence period to be served after that.

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There has been widespread shock at the incident, including from the Sussex Police Federation.

CCTV captures the moment Owen Smith - wearing a balaclava - attacked the police officer in the drivers' seat. Pictures and video: Sussex PoliceCCTV captures the moment Owen Smith - wearing a balaclava - attacked the police officer in the drivers' seat. Pictures and video: Sussex Police
CCTV captures the moment Owen Smith - wearing a balaclava - attacked the police officer in the drivers' seat. Pictures and video: Sussex Police
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Simon Steele, secretary of the federation, said: "No assault on a police officer is acceptable and this was a particularly