AN HEROIC postmaster has spoken of his brave attempts to stop three robbers who stole £1,800 from his store.

The employee at the Crescent Road Post Office in Great Lever, who did not want to be named, stood up to Mohammed Yousaf, aged 48, Sajid Latif, aged 43, and Zaffar Latif, aged 41, on March 2 as they raided the premises.

He told of how he was working as normal in the evening when he saw two men, both Latifs, dressed in balaclavas.

The postmaster, who is in his late 20s, said: “They just came in and I had a bit of a fight with them and tried to hold them back.

“The two men came into the shop and said they wanted the money. They started to jump on me straight away and then we had a bit of a fight.

“One ran away and then I grabbed hold of the other one from behind but the other guy came in to free him so I let him go. That was about it.

“I just did not want to let them get away with anything.”

He could not recall which of the robbers had taken the money and said the store had to close the next day.

He added: “I didn’t really have any injuries, just minor bruising and pain at the back of my shoulder.

“I was pretty frightened to be honest, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t.”

Sajid Latif ran off at the first challenge by the postmaster and lost his shoes.

After they were arrested, both Zaffar and Sajid Latif pleaded guilty to the offence but Yousaf pleaded not guilty and was convicted by a jury.

The three were all sentenced at Bolton Crown Court on Monday.

Yousaf, of no fixed address, was the getaway driver, and he was sentenced to four years and four months, 16 months of that being from a suspended sentence from a previous offence.

Sajid Latif, of Bradford Road, Bolton, was given two years and four months in prison.

Zaffar Latif, of Marlbrook Walk, was sentenced to two years.

Sentencing them at Bolton Crown Court yesterday, Judge Graeme Smith described the incident as a ‘serious offence’’ and praised the postmaster for his bravery.

He said: “I have to praise the postmaster who bravely confronted the three of you. He struggled first of all with Zaffar Latif and then with Mohammed Yousaf, who came to rescue Mr Latif.”