Saturday 9 November 2024
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Nottingham

Man who robbed a shop using a cardboard gun jailed

A man who robbed a shop while pretending to have a gun has been jailed.

Paul McDonald stormed into the store and demanded money while aiming something he was hiding under his jumper at a shop worker.

Believing that the mysterious item being pointed at him was a gun, the cashier immediately handed over a small amount of cash.

McDonald then ran out of the store in Wollaton Steet, Nottingham city centre, but was chased by the teenage shop worker he’d just threatened.

After bravely tackling the 48-year-old to the ground, he discovered McDonald didn’t have a gun – but had in fact been holding a rolled-up piece of cardboard.

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McDonald managed to flee from the scene, having dropped the cash he’d taken, before being discovered by police just a few minutes later following a search of the area.

He was then arrested, with officers finding the cardboard he’d used to carry out the robbery in his bag.

McDonald, of St Mary’s Court, Derby, was charged with robbery and having an imitation firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence.

After pleading guilty to the charges, he appeared at Nottingham Crown Court for sentencing on Monday (18 July).

He was sentenced to three years in prison.

Detective Constable Rob Marsden, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “McDonald’s decision that day to storm into the store and threaten someone with what they believed was a gun was completely unacceptable and reckless in the extreme.

“At the time of the robbery, the shop worker had no way of knowing for sure that the object being pointed at him was anything other than a real firearm.

“The force will always respond robustly and decisively to every report we receive relating to a firearms offence, for the simple purpose of helping keep people safe.

“Likewise, we are absolutely committed to reducing incidents of robbery in our communities as we understand how much of a lasting impact this can have on people.

“This must have been a terrifying experience for the teenage victim, who will have believed they were in danger of being seriously hurt throughout the ordeal.

“While McDonald wasn’t carrying a weapon during this incident, this was still an incredibly serious offence, so I’m pleased to see this has been reflected in the length of the sentence handed out to him.”

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