Hull man's bid to rob William Hill with 'gun' made of plastic tubes and sticky tape
A ROBBER failed in his bid to rob a bookmaker with a pretend gun after the assistant refused to hand over the cash.
Lee Ollett, 33, used two plastic tubes and tape to create a fake firearm and attempted to rob William Hill in Greenwood Avenue, north Hull.
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'GENUINELY ASHAMED': Lee Ollett tried to rob William Hill bookmakers, left, in Greenwood Avenue, north Hull, using a makeshift gun.
He stood in the queue before handing a betting slip to assistant Chris Needham, stating: "Hand over all your money and no harm will come to you."
Prosecutor Jane Bryan said: "The assistant looked up to see the defendant had produced a white carrier bag wrapped around two tubes.
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"He believed the defendant was intending to make him think he was in possession of a gun.
"He didn't think it was a gun and told him: 'It's not going to happen'."
The defendant asked Mr Needham 'Why?' and he replied: 'Because it's not'."
Ollett tried to retrieve the betting slip from Mr Needham but failed and fled the store.
Police found the tubes and tape abandoned in Greenwood Avenue and arrested Ollett nearby.
Ollett pleaded guilty to attempted robbery on May 5 at Hull Crown Court.
He was on bail at the time for stealing coffee from Tesco in Newland Avenue, west Hull, a month earlier. A warrant had been issued for his arrest after he failed to attend court for the case.
His barrister John Thackray said: "It is difficult to think of a more inept and unsophisticated attempt to rob."
Mr Thackray described the robbery attempt as "a cry for help" as Ollet was feeding a drug habit and was living a hand-to-mouth existence.
"He is genuinely ashamed and has no recollection of the incident as he had taken Valium," Mr Thackray said.
Recorder Julian Goose QC jailed Ollett, who has 104 previous convictions, for two years and two months.
He said: "You went to your friend's house to ask for some tubing and tape because it was in your mind to tape them together to present them as if it was a genuine firearm.
"You went to the shop to buy a toy gun to make your efforts more realistic.
"Instead, you wrapped the tubes in a white plastic bag and went into William Hill."
The judge praised the bravery of Mr Needham in refusing to hand over the cash.
"The person working there clearly had a great deal of calmness about him but, nevertheless, he saw the bag and thought what was inside was a gun, whether he realised it was a trick or not," he said.
"He had the presence of mind to refuse your demands and you panicked and fled."
Comments
by allyfish
Wednesday, June 20 2012, 9:15AM
“Indeed Demonica, heaven forbid that Ollett should spawn any criminally minded delinquent offspring that tax payers will support from cradle to grave. But then we have to respect his human rights and right to a family life.... Where did it all go so wrong for this country?”
by Demonica666
Tuesday, June 19 2012, 9:53PM
“He is one classy dude and I think he's lovely. Well, we women love a guy that can make us laugh. And laugh.
And before I get abusive posts from people who can barely read or write (as previously) I am being sarcastic...
I suppose it is too much to hope that this gentleman is still 'Virgo intacto' and there are no Baby Olletts on the horizon? Then again, he obviously shoots blanks...”
by pcrowan
Tuesday, June 19 2012, 7:53PM
“He was probably hoping for a clean getaway or he was going to make a pretend miniature nuclear bomb from the empties using blu tak and child friendly glue in case he accidently licked it”
by Mark_Hull_65
Tuesday, June 19 2012, 7:08PM
“"182 days for stealing 35 bottles of shower gel from Poundland"
POUNDLAND??
:-D
:facepalm:”
by 1Tommygunn
Tuesday, June 19 2012, 4:59PM
“From Shampoo to a Bookies...there's a guy with real ambition!”
by allyfish
Tuesday, June 19 2012, 4:39PM
“Behold the criminal genius of Ollett, just one of his previous heists: "Lee Ollett, 32, of Millgate Flats, Orchard Park, was jailed for 182 days for stealing 35 bottles of shower gel from Poundland"
My good Lord.”
by audemars
Tuesday, June 19 2012, 2:06PM
“Ollett would snort sawdust if it was on a mirror (allegedly)”
by audemars
Tuesday, June 19 2012, 2:02PM
“He could go for the police commissioner job, he has got plenty of experienced with the police - not so good at avoiding getting caught though.”
by audemars
Tuesday, June 19 2012, 2:01PM
“Another sentence for ole Ollett eh? I'm sure he will soon be complaining if his TV isn't the latest model or he is on the default menu option because he uses a bit of his prison menu as a makeshift rizla paper!!
Can you imagine what his CRB check would look that! the CRB people would run out of paper.”
by pcrowan
Tuesday, June 19 2012, 1:37PM
“Definately vacant possession with no previous tenant that one”