A VIOLENT robber who attacked a security guard as he tried to steal a cash deposit box has been jailed.

Christopher Brembah, 23, tried to steal the box as guards from a private security firm were about to fill up cash machines outside Woodford tube station.

Brembah, of no fixed abode but known to reside in Ilford, was sentenced to six years for attempted robbery at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Friday, July 23, after admitting his guilt at an earlier hearing.

As the guard took the cash into the station entrance, Brembah attacked him and grabbed hold of the box.

The guard held onto the money and when Brembah was unable to prise it from his grasp, despite continuing to punch the victim, he fled from the station.

The incident, which took place on December 4 last year, was captured on the station's CCTV cameras, the high quality of which helped officers from British Transport Police identify and arrest their suspect.

BTP Detective Constable Martyn Kemp, investigating, said: “This was a brazen attempt to steal. We downloaded good quality CCTV images of the suspect and got Brembah's name through after we circulated these on police intelligence systems.

“Faced with these images, which put him at the scene of the crime, Brembah had no option but to plead guilty.

“Incidents like this are thankfully very rare on the Tube but nevertheless can be very frightening for those involved and I welcome the jail sentence handed to Brembah.”