Martial artist Mark Elliott fought off armed ATM gang

Published: 25th February, 2011
by TERRY MESSENGER

WAITING police swooped on an armed gang as they attacked a security guard making a delivery to a petrol station cash machine.

Officers, acting on intelligence, were lying in wait for the gang ready to intervene. But they were too late to prevent an assault on secur­ity guard Mark Elliott, 46, who had to use his martial arts skills to defend himself.

Gang members Paul Bryant, of Holloway Road, Holloway, Anthony Powell, of Outram Place, Barnsbury and Paul Mursell, of no fixed address, were jailed on Monday after being arrested at the scene.

The trio were being watched by Flying Squad detectives as they pulled up in a car at a petrol station in Hemel Hempstead on the morning of September 8 last year.

Security guard Mr Elliott was delivering cash to the ATM machine when Mursell and Powell ran towards him with a knife while Bryant acted as get-away driver.

As they slashed at his clothing, former kickboxing champion Mr Bryant fought them off and pinned Powell to the ground. Police rushed to assist Mr Elliott and arrested the gang.

Speaking at Harrow Crown Court, Mr Elliott said: “I have trained since the age of 14 in various types of martial arts to black belt level, including boxing, Thai boxing, and Taekwondo.

“I feel that my self-defence knowledge kicked in immediately and it took over which helped prevent my attacker from succeeding.

“I checked myself over for injuries and I noticed a slash in the front of my polo shirt. Fortunately my ID card was under my shirt and I believe this prevented me from receiving any serious injuries.”

Bryant, 26, and Powell, 29, were both jailed for four and a half years, and Mursell, 42, was jailed for four years. 

All three had previously pleaded guilty to the offence and four ­others charges.

Detective Inspector BJ Llewellyn, of the Flying Squad, said: “I would like to acknowledge the forward thinking and bravery of Mark Elliott who apprehended one of the suspects.”