A brave jewellery shop boss who fought violent armed robbers today vowed he wouldn’t quit his business.

Sam Brown fell down a flight of stairs after he was kicked in the stomach by a man wielding a sledgehammer. But the plucky manager of Lister Horsfall jewellers, in Ilkley, chased the gang out of the shop and grappled with one of them before he was threatened with the sledgehammer.

After two of the gang were each jailed for 12 years yesterday, Mr Brown said: “I didn’t think about it at the time. I don’t think I was being brave. It makes you consider the career you’re in, but I won’t let it get in the way of doing my job.”

Kiiam Kirby, of Normanton Place, Beeston, Leeds, and Sam Hall, of Recreation Grove, Holbeck, Leeds, both 22, were jailed at Leeds Crown Court for their roles in a spate of six robberies and one attempted robbery in less than two months, at high street jewellers and banks in West Yorkshire and Derbyshire.

Prosecutor Katherine Robinson said the defendants were part of a team who carried out the violent offences, which were characterised by the use of sledgehammers to smash their way into the premises and threaten staff and the public.

During two of the robberies a firearm or imitation firearm was used to threaten those present, Miss Robinson said.

She told the court at least ten stolen cars, many of high value, were used as getaway vehicles.

The robberies were professionally planned, and the total retail value of property stolen was £831,860.

Both defendants pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rob. Hall was on bail for a house burglary at the time of the robberies. He was jailed for ten years for the conspiracy with a further two years for the burglary. Kirby was imprisoned for 12 years for the conspiracy.

Police are still hunting at least one other member of the gang.

The first offence was at the Santander Bank, in Long Eaton, Derbyshire, in July last year. Nothing was stolen but Kirby was arrested in connection with the incident and bailed by Derbyshire police, before going on to commit the other offences.

On August 2, a robbery took place at S Manning jewellers, in New Market Street, Otley, in which Rolex watches and diamond jewellery were taken. An elderly woman witness held up her walking stick and confronted the robbers but was pulled away by her daughters.

On August 12, the robbers struck at Neimantas jewellers, in Commercial Street, Brighouse, and a week later targeted the same shop. One masked raider pointed a handgun at owner Steven Neimantas. As the robbers fled the shop, one of them told Mr Neimantas: “sorry about this”.

Robberies followed at the Santander Bank, in Otley, and a jewellery shop in Wetherby, before the final raid on Lister Horsfall in Brook Street, Ilkley, on September 8.

Mr Brown grabbed one fleeing robber in a bear hug in the street and held him to the ground, as the suspect ripped buttons off his clothing. The manager let go when a man emerged from the getaway car with a sledgehammer.

Kirby was arrested at his home, but Hall was detained by police at the Chevin Lodge Hotel, Otley, where he had been staying with his girlfriend in a £195 per night suite. A plastic bag containing £200 proceeds from the robberies was found.

In a statement, Mr Brown said it had made him question whether he wanted to have his life put at risk. Mr Neimantas said he had considered selling the business.

Nicholas De La Poer, for Kirby, said he was not “at the apex of the pyramid” and had demonstrated no high living from the robberies.

Richard Reed, for Hall, said he was the driver and had been drawn into the criminal enterprise because of debt.

Judge Sally Cahill QC said the violence offered to those working in the shops and customers was an aggravating feature.