A bumbling bank robber was jailed today after he was shamed into giving himself up to police – after his Bury raid became a laughing stock on Facebook.
Nathan Baxendale thought he would get away with his crime by not saying a word during his robbery and instead hand staff a note saying: ‘Give me your money, I have a gun.’
But the 21-year old goofed when he FORGOT to put a disguise on for his hold up at the Co-op bank at the Rock shopping centre in Bury, Greater Manchester.
Crystal clear CCTV images captured him boldly entering and leaving the branch before he flagged down a taxi to escape with around £2,000 in cash.
Police later put the CCTV images on the social media site appealing for help to find the robber – sparking derision amongst Facebook users who posted messages branding the robber an ‘idiot’, a ‘plonker’ and a ‘brazen barstool.’
One message said: ”Name and shame! Quite thick really wasn’t he?”
Another said: ”Did he seriously think he wouldn’t be on camera, won’t take long to find him.”
A third joked: ”Its a cert he’s framed – ha ha you fool!!!”
Just 24 hours after the raid Baxendale surrendered to police and later claimed he had carried out the robbery to pay drugs debts and splash out on a set of new clothes.
At Bolton Crown Court, Baxendale, of no fixed address admitted robbery and was jailed for three years.
Greater Manchester Police said he hold up occurred near closing time at 4.50pm on February 19, 2014 when Baxendale walked into the bank without making any attempt to conceal his identity.
He approached the cashier’s desk where he pulled out an A5 sized piece of paper with the warning scrawled in capital letters.
Fearing she would be attacked and harmed, the cashier gave the thief some money and he then walked off.
Police believe the robber got into a taxi and was driven to Rochdale. The CCTV image of the raid then went on Greater Manchester Polices Facebook page dubbing the robber the ‘silent thief.’
Police said no gun was physically seen but the cashier was terrified at seeing the note and called the robber a ‘desperate and potentially dangerous man’.
Oficers later got a tip off about Baxendale’s identity after a caller recognised his pale and spotty complexion, and went to his mother’s house.
He was not at home at the time but handed himself in February 21, 2014. A portion of the money was recovered.
Det Sgt Ian Partington of Greater Manchester Police said today: “This was an extremely bizarre incident for which there was only ever going to be one outcome.
“Baxendale walked into the bank bold as brass, made no attempt to conceal his identity and made what the cashier believed was a credible and terrifying threat.
“Once we reviewed the CCTV and saw just how good the systems were and how clearly he had been captured we knew if would only be a matter of time before he was caught and obviously he has pleaded due to the overwhelming evidence against him.”
Det Sgt Ian Partington thanked everyone who helped bring Baxendale to justice.
“Since the appeal was issued on social networking sites, we had an overwhelming response and as a result of comments and information left on GMP’s Facebook site, we made an arrest,” he said.
“Baxendale now has a long time in prison to reflect on his actions, which were, quite frankly, stupid in the extreme.”
Story via Cavendish Press.
Image courtesy of publik, via Flickr, with thanks.
