WEIRD NEWS OF THE WEEK: Bank robber jailed after giving cashier his name and address before hold-up

A bank robber has been sent to jail after being caught because he gave the cashier he later robbed his full name and address.

By Dave Lancaster |

16:55 14 May 2014

'Stupid' 27-year-old Dean Smith walked into his local bank Treorchy in Rhondda Cynon Taf, South Wales with an aim to change his address, but decided to rob the place instead. One of his many flaws was giving the cashier his genuine personal details before the attempted robbery.

 

Smith went through the procedure of changing address and while he was there he got tempted to raid the bank after noticing how full of cash the tills were. 

 

Smith came back half an hour later wearing some sunglasses and socks over his (presumably quite unique) shoes as a disguise to attempt to make off with the cash. 

 

His ill-fated scheme was further marred when the cashier refused to give the robber any money despite the poorly disguised man brandishing a bread knife.

 

Rachel Knight, prosecuting, said: "[The cashier] could see he was holding a bread knife across his body as he demanded all the cash to be handed over.

 

"He was not shouting.

 

"He was rushed but not angry or agitated. He sounded desperate.

 

"[Cashier] Ms [Catherine] Stockton raised the alarm by pressing the panic button."

 

Steven Jeary, defending, said: "He told the police it was stupid and he was very sorry but he was desperate for money."

 

Smith's spontaneous, poorly executed and woefully disguised crime got him two and a half years.