A ROBBER who was wrestled to the ground as he tried to steal a mother's car in front of shocked shoppers has been jailed.

Furious shoppers and shop workers tackled Vidal Ritchie, 24, after he and an accomplice brazenly tried to drive off in the woman's car at the Elk Mill Retail Park, Royton.

Ritchie, of Hansdon Close, Cheetham Hill, pleaded guilty to robbery and was sentenced to three years in prison last week.

Police praised the courage and bravery of the victim, her mother, shop assistants and other shoppers who stopped him from escaping after the incident, which took place in June.

See this week's Advertiser for the full story and interviews with some of the people who stopped Ritchie from escaping ...