Police pull gunpoint robbery suspect from Walsall canal after woman threatened

Police were called to an address in Limehurst Road, Rushall, at 10.30am yesterday morning to reports of a disturbance where a man claimed to be in possession of a pistol.

Firearms officers rushed to the scene and were directed towards Rushall Canal by residents where a 27-year-old man was arrested after being plucked from the water.

A suspected stolen handbag was recovered by police hidden in bushes nearby whilst an imitation handgun – believed to have been used in the robbery – was later uncovered during a search warrant at a property in the Willenhall area.

He is currently in police custody being questioned on suspicion of snatching a handbag from a woman at gun point as she enjoyed a night out in Walsall with her daughter.

The two women were outside Pelsall Labour Club at 9.30pm on Saturday night when the 56-year-old mother was grabbed from behind and threatened with what police believe was an imitation handgun.

The thief stole her handbag, which contained bank cards and almost £100, leaving both her and her heavily-pregnant daughter unhurt but badly shaken.

Walsall Police CID Sergeant Craig Newey, said: "This was a nasty robbery and clearly a very distressing incident. The offender grabbed the victim by the hair, pressed a pistol into the back of her head and demanded her bag.

"He also turned to threaten her daughter - we believe he then spotted she was noticeably pregnant and ran off.

"It's believed the robber used an imitation weapon but at the time the victims would no doubt have thought they were being threatened with a genuine firearm."

Drinkers ran after the attacker but he got away.

A message on the club's Facebook page said a gun was held to the woman's head.

It adds: "They took her handbag which had money, phone and keys in.

"What is this world coming to? He was wearing a grey hoodie. It's thought he got into a car parked by the history centre but not sure as some members ran after him and he disappeared. Our thoughts are with the lady and her daughter and family."

The 27-year-old suspect, of no fixed address, is also being held on suspicion of a robbery attempt against a man in Walsall town centre at around 9am on Sunday morning.

He is accused of stopping a man in the street, punching him several times and rummaging through his pockets before a passer-by intervened to separate the men.