A bar supervisor has been commended for his heroism in overpowering a masked robber who threatened to shoot him and his two staff members.

Richard Dewhirst, supervisor at Bar t’at, on Cunliffe Road, Ilkley, pinned robber Philip Gibb to the floor after he demanded the £13,000 takings, brandishing what looked like a gun.

Gibb, 31, of Woodlands, Ben Rhydding, was this week jailed for four years after admitting robbery at the pub at about midnight on June 3. Gibb also pleaded guilty to possession of an imitation firearm, a metal pipe hidden under a black bin bag.

Judge Peter Benson praised Mr Dewhirst for showing “great courage and presence of mind”.

“This was a determined robbery, pursued in the presence of three people, accompanied by threats to kill and involving the use of an imitation firearm,” Judge Benson said.

And Mr Dewhirst also earned praise from his boss, Market Town Taverns managing director, Simon Midgley.

Mr Midgley told the Gazette: “On behalf of the business, I’d like to thank Richard for his heroism. It’s not something we’d ask of our guys, I certainly wouldn’t recommend it.”

He said some of the staff were still recovering from the shock of the attack.

At Bradford Crown Court on Tuesday, prosecutor Shamaila Qureshi said Gibb saw Mr Dewhirst from the street, cashing up in an upstairs room at the pub.

He pulled up his hood, wrapped a scarf round his face and entered the pub by the back door.

He threatened Rachel Martin, who was clearing up, and pushed her upstairs to the office where Mr Dewhirst and staff member Sam Thomas were working.

Miss Martin told them: “This man has a gun,” Miss Qureshi said.

Gibb threatened to shoot the three and demanded they put cash into a bag.

He was given loose change and then the £13,356 takings after he demanded: “I know you have more money than this. I have watched you for half an hour.”

Gibb fell downstairs as he fled, dropping the fake gun.

Mr Dewhirst seized hold of him and pinned him down until the police arrived.

In 2004, Gibb was jailed for six years for robbery when he tied up his victim while raiding a commercial building.

His solicitor advocate, Sajid Majeed, said Gibb had got heavily into debt and the bailiffs kept coming round. He wanted money to provide for his family.

The judge said the staff were left “upset, scared and frightened”.