Customer held up shop to gamble

Jamie Andrew Vandertak, 18, bought the realistic looking BB gun and took it round to his local shop in an attempt to feed his £150 a day gambling problem.

Desperate Vandertak pointed the gun at terrified newsagent Simon Jarrold’s chest and twice demanded he hand over the cash in the till but he refused and Vandertak made off empty handed.

But the inept criminal was quickly caught as his only disguise was a hooded top.

Nick Adlington, prosecuting, said: “He had a gambling habit and was purchasing large amounts of scratchcards. He put his hood up but made no other attempt to disguise his face and was immediately recognised as a customer.”

After fleeing the Goole shop at 3.30pm on February 2, Vandertak was caught by police with the aid of a helicopter within 35 minutes.

The court heard he had considered robbing a butchers but feared staff would be armed with meat cleavers.

Vandertak, of Goole, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and possessing an imitation firearm and was given a detention and training order for two years.

Judge Jeremy Baker QC said: “You decided that because you required money you would purchase a BB gun and you then used it to seek to rob a vulnerable man in a small shop which you used to frequent.

“You intentionally purchased that firearm to commit a robbery and you can imagine the emotional impact that would have been caused to the shop owner who was presented with such a scene. There was clearly an anticipation by you of a significant amount of money had you been successful.”