Australia's Dumbest Bank Robber caught

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A CLUMSY robber botched a hold up of a Brisbane bank only five weeks after being released on parole for a robbery and attempted robbery of building societies, a court heard today.

The District Court in Brisbane was told Gareth William Richards was dressed in a bright red tee shirt with a distinctive logo, had his sunglasses resting on the top of his head and forgot to wear gloves when he attempted to rob the Commonwealth Bank, in George Street, nearly two years ago.

Police had a clear identifying photographs of Richards on CCTV and because he did not wear gloves his fingerprints were quickly identified.

Prosecutor Ron Swanwick tendered documents to the court which detailed how Richards walked into the CBD bank at about 3.30pm and joined a queue of customers.

When he reached the top he handed the teller a note which read: "This is not a joke I have gun (sic) give me the money".

However, the teller walked away to a different area of the counter and Richards fled.

He was caught by police three days later and returned to custody for breaching his parole.

Mr Swanwick said Richards had been released five weeks earlier on parole.

Richards had been sentenced in 2007 to seven years jail for offences including robbery and attempted robbery in Toowoomba.

Richards, 32, pleaded guilty to the attempted robbery of the bank on December 2 , 2009.

Barrister Lars Falcongreen, for Richards, said his client had mental health problems but had been found to have the necessary capacity to face a court.

He said Richards had been on parole but been ordered to stay in Brisbane when Richards's support network was in Toowoomba.

"It was a clumsy and amateurish attempt at robbing the bank. He had his sunnies on top of his head, he was wearing a red shirt with a distinctive logo and he didn't wear gloves.... he left fingerprints," he added.

Mr Flacongreen said the sentence on Richards should be reduced to reflect the fact he would have problems with getting parole and also to reflect his plea of guilty.

Judge Michael Rackemann said a worrying factor was that Richards had been sentenced for attempting to rob a building society in Toowoomba by indicating he had an explosive device in his bag.

He said when Richards failed he had gone to rob another building society also in Toowoomba.

"It was not dissimilar to the current offence," he said.

Judge Rackemann sentenced Richards to 26 months jail cumulative on his 2007 sentences but after taking into account time served and mitigating factors set a parole eligibility date at today.

He noted it would be some time before Richards could get the necessary paperwork together to apply for new parole.


SourCe

What an imbasol.