The actions of a 61-year old armed robber from the United Kingdom has earned him a tag as the world's dumbest robber.
Paul Neaverson
A 61 year old man who has been identified by police as Paul Neaverson, walked in to bank and held a knife to the cashier’s neck. His next action shocked everybody as he asked the clerk to transfer the money in to his own bank account. The cashier managed to hit the panic button to alert security operatives.
Neaverson fled, but undeterred, he only went as far as the HSBC just 400ft away where he walked into another bank to demand for bank transfers threatening with the knife.
Prosecutor Ed Conell said Neaverson demanded £500 but when told by the cashier he did not have network to make the transfer, he turned around and walked out.
Shortly afterwards, he went to the nearby Barclays Bank and told a cashier: “Put £500 in my account or on the counter.” He took the knife out of his pocket and pointed it at the cashier, who quickly pressed the panic button.
He immediately put the weapon into his pocket afterwards but a customer sighted him, overpowered and took the dangerous object from him. Neaverson was left confused, so he swiftly walked out of the bank only to be arrested outside by the policemen patrolling the area.
Scene of the crime
Neaverson pleaded guilty to the crime in court. He said his only income was disability allowance. According to him, he had secured a job as a golf coach in Corfu and needed move to leave the country desperately which pushed him into robbery.
Neaverson, of no fixed address, was jailed for two years after admitting two offences of robbery and possessing a bladed object. His jail term has yielded heated debates among legal practitioners who feel it should be lesser considering Paul Neaverson's crime-free record and plight.