Man dies after being restrained by members of the public during robbery

A man has died after he was restrained by members of the public as he attempted to rob a jeweller's store, according to police.

Two men wearing motorcycle helmets smashed a window of John Gowing Jewellers in Oxford’s Covered Market at 9.15am yesterday.

One man ran off, discarding his helmet and some clothing, police said, but members of the public stopped the other one, who collapsed. Paramedics tried to resuscitate him.

Local newsagent worker Yaseen Yusef said: “He was a big bloke with a tattoo. We have heard he may have had a heart attack, maybe as he was being wrestled to the ground."

A Thames Valley Police spokesman said that Clinton Townsend, 33, from Headington, Oxford, was taken in a serious condition to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford where he died yesterday afternoon.

A post-mortem examination will be carried out to establish a cause of death.

Police have also arrested two men, aged 31 and 32, on suspicion of robbery.

It is believed that nothing was stolen in the raid.

Detective Superintendent Chris Ward, leading the investigation, said: "This is very much still an active investigation and there are a number of people helping us with our enquiries.

"We have specially trained officers working with all those involved in this incident."