Birmingham armed bank robber ‘threatened to shoot baby in pram’
A ROBBER threatened to shoot a young child in a pushchair if bank staff did not hand over cash, a court was told.
Anthony Pulley, 57, of Barnsley Hall Drive, Bromsgrove, ordered a taxi to take him to the bank in Alcester, Warwickshire.
He was arrested after his cabbie, who innocently took him to the HSBC branch in High Street, walked in to see where he was – and took him outside.
Vicki Lofrese, prosecuting, told Warwick Crown Court there were two customers at the time of the raid on May 12, one with a child in a pushchair.
A man who cashier Christine Jones said “looked ill and appeared to be frail” approached the counter and handed over a folded piece of paper.
It read: “Hand the money over. I have a revolver in my pocket. I will shoot everyone in here.”
“Mrs Jones was somewhat cynical and said “show me,” and activated the attack button as she began to take notes out of the till,” said Miss Lofrese.
Pulley then threatened: “Hurry up, or I’ll shoot the baby.”
Mrs Jones put £5,000 in a bank bag but before it was handed over, cabbie Neil Gow walked in and led Pulley outside.
Pulley, who pleaded guilty to attempted robbery, had served three years for holding up a building society with a toy gun in 1978.
Nick Devine, defending, said Pulley was an in-patient at a psychiatric unit.
Judge Christopher Hodson adjourned the case for probation reports.
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