More Pretend Shotguns

[mydeacs]

http://www.courtnewsuk.co.uk/crime_archive/?id=25256

A 68 year old retired tax inspector, who held up a bank with a
converted garden hose in a desperate bid to get out of debt,
was freed by a sympathetic Old Bailey judge today (Mon).
Grey haired Frederick Cowen, 68, who suffers from arthritis and
walks with a stick, became depressed because of threats from bank
managers about his ever-growing mountain of interest due.
As a last resort the former second World War minesweeper
hero turned to crime.
'It was a pantomime of a bank robbery that was doomed to failure
from the start,' said Mr John Watson, defending.
Judge Henry Pownall QC sentenced him to three years probation and
ordered him to undergo psychiatric treatment.
'I am quite convinced you will never again be a danger to the
public and I am going to take this wholly unusual course because
despite the awfulness of what you did the circumstances themselves
are wholly unusual,' commented the judge.
'What you did was terrible and terrifying to both the customers
and staff of that bank.
'It may have been a pantomime but no-one at the other end of the
home-made hose head was to know that it was not a firearm.'
The judge said that he accepted that Cowen had led a 'fine
and blameless life' for over 60 years. 'And I accept that you
have always put your needs second to those of others and what
you did was simply not you.'
As he hobbled out of court Cowen, near to tears, said: 'I am very
relieved and very happy I will be spending Christmas at home.'
The court heard that the former higher executive officer
with the Inland Revenue borrowed 6,000 pounds from two banks
to put his daughter through university but could not keep up with
the huge interest payment from his his 700 pounds a month Civil
Service and State pensions.
Cowen's imitation gun consisted of a hosepipe attached to a piece of
silver tubing. By brandishing it in the Midland Bank in Whetstone
High Road, he succesfully persuaded a cashier to hand over money.
The court heard he escaped with 1,500 pounds but was chased for
half a mile by the bank manager who finally captured him with the
help of two members of the public.
After praising the action of Cowen's captors Judge Pownall
smiled and said: 'I don't suppose they had to run very
fast to catch him.'
Cowen had worked for the Inland Revenue for many years before
retiring in June 1989.
The former tax man told detectives: 'I thought Christ, you have
got to do something and I just walked in.'
The judge heard that his only previous offence was for parking on
a double yellow line.
Cowen, of Calverley Grove, Upper Holloway, pleaded guilty to
robbery and possessing an imitation firearm on August 3 this year.

[mydeacs]

Seriously, its reporting like this that makes me want to rob a bank

http://www.courtnewsuk.co.uk/crime_archive/?id=25848

A bungling bank robber who was mugged of his loot by two cheeky
villains who lay in wait for him outside has been freed by a merciful
judge.
Bewildered bandit Stuart Everton, 20, thought it was third time
lucky when he escaped with 1,800 pounds.
Two previous hold ups on building societies had both been
unsuccessful, the Old Bailey heard on Monday when Everton appeared
for sentence.
Everton could not believe it wh en he was ambushed in a nearby
alleyway by two robbers who grabbed his gun and forced him to hand
over the loot he had just stolen, said Mr. Tony Docking, prosecuting.
The muggers stashed away the cash and then brazenly presented
themselves to the police as courageous have-a-go heroes who had
chased the bank robber.
They were even prepared to give evidence against him in court.
The truth only emerged when police checked out Everton's amazing
story and found that the robber had, indeed, been robbed.
The raid took place at Barclays Bank in East Barnet Road, New
Barnet, on August 3 this year, said Mr. Docking.
While Everton was inside the bank holding staff at gunpoint
and forcing them to hand over cash the two muggers were calmy
waiting for him outside, peering in through the window.
It was even possible, the court heard, that the muggers had planned
to rob the bank themselves but when they got there found that Everton
had beaten them to it.
When the bandit ran from the bank clutching his booty one
of the muggers was heard to say: 'He's done it!'
'They simply followed him, mugged him, and pretended they had
given chase and lost him,' said Mr Docking.
Both muggers were later tracked down by the police and arrested.
Everton pleaded guilty to three robberies and related firearms
charges between July 28 and August 14 this year and asked for
two earlier attempted robberies to be taken into consideration.
When Mr Docking moved from the story of how the robber was robbed
to tell the judge of two other raids in which he fled empty handed
Judge Henry Pownall, QC, asked with a wry smile: 'What went wrong
this time?'
'It appears that he was very nervous and gave up,' replied Mr Docking.
The court heard that he was arrested on August 14 this year by
flying squad officers who were keeping observation on Trustee
Savings bank in Edmonton.
Mr Docking said: 'He was spotted sitting outside the bank on a
wall. He put on a pair of sunglasses and entered. He approached a
till and fumbled in his bag.'
He pointed his gun at the cashier and demanded money, the
judge heard.
Everton was arrested as he fled with nearly 900 pounds.
He told officers: 'You blokes don't mess around. I'm impressed.'
The court heard that his first succesful raid was on July 28 this
year when he escaped with over 1,000 pounds at the Halifax Building
Society in Edmonton.
A silent alarm was activated but Everton fled before police arrived.
He apologised to his victims at such length in statements to the
police that Judge Henry Pownall QC remarked that the robber appeared
to have 'verbal diarrhoea.'
The judge sentenced him to two years probation and also ordered
him to do 80 hours community service.
The judge said: 'What you did durng that mad month was a
wicked example of what far too many in your situation are doing.
You did it to fund your craving for crack. But I am going to take
a rather unusual course because I think you are rather unusual too.'
The two muggers who robbed him are awaiting trial.