A bank robber made off with over £3,000 in cash after walking into a Halifax and handing a cashier a terrifying note that mentioned a shotgun.
James McPhail went into an Ashington branch of the bank hours after attempting to carry out another robbery at a Post Office on January 26, this year. The 39-year-old walked into the bank with a bag containing a long piece of wood and handed a cashier a note saying he had a shotgun and to hand over cash, otherwise they'd be "in danger". McPhail managed to take off with a total of £3,065.
McPhail, of Seaton Avenue, Bedlington, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court, via link from HMP Durham, on Thursday to be sentenced for robbery, attempted robbery, and burglary. He had pleaded guilty to the charges at previous hearings.
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Deborah Smithies, prosecuting, said on the day of the robbery, McPhail left his mother's Ashington home with a canvas bag containing a long piece of wood. He then cycled up Station Road and entered the Post Office whilst wearing a beanie and a Covid mask. She said: "The defendant went to the counter and handed over a handwritten note through the gap in the shield. It read: 'For the safety of you, your colleagues and customers, just follow these instructions as me and my partner outside have deadly weapons. Don't make us use them, just pass over notes and we will leave peacefully'."
Ms Smithies said the terrified worker refused to hand over money and instead pressed a panic button, causing McPhail to walk out empty handed. But around two hours later, he tried again, this time at a nearby Halifax on the same road.
The court was told McPhail put a traffic cone in the doorway of the bank so that the automatic doors wouldn't close, he then walked up to a cashier and handed over another handwritten note. The note said: 'We have a shotgun. Pass over all notes or you and the customers are in danger. Don't put lives at risk.' This time, the cashier handed over £565, with McPhail then moving over to the next cashier and demanding money. That cashier handed him over £2,000 before McPhail fled on his bicycle with a total of £3,065.
Ms Smithies said McPhail was later tracked down from CCTV and police searched his mother's home, where the bag and piece of wood were found. Officers later went to his home address and found around £650 cash.
McPhail also appeared to be sentenced for a burglary he carried out at the Mustard Seed Café on Vulcan Road, Bedlington on November 15, last year. The court heard he broke into the café and stole £60 from the till as well as a charity box. He was caught after his DNA was found on the broken window. He also carried out an attempted burglary of a home in Bedlington on November 29, last year, when he was seen on CCTV trying the back door of a home but failed to gain entry.
The court heard McPhail had 35 previous convictions for 96 offences, including burglary. However, he had no previous convictions for robbery.
Andrew Walker, defending, said behind the "veneer of serious offences they were doomed to fail" and branded the offences "amateurish". He said the robbery and attempted robbery were "unsophisticated" and said there was no actual weapon involved and no injuries were caused. Mr Walker added that McPhail has "struggled with heroin addiction for the past two decades".
Recorder Ian Mullarkey said McPhail carried out the offences to fund his addiction but did not deem him a dangerous offender. Recorder Mullarkey jailed him for seven-and-a-half years.
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