Dudley shop raider with toy gun is jailed

A thug who was wielding a fake gun threatened a shopkeeper during a raid on a store he used regularly as a customer, a court was told.

Neil Timmins pulled a pistol from his bag and pushed it into the stomach of Mohammed Khan when the shop was empty of customers,Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

Mr Khan was working at Minty's off-licence in Wolverhampton Street, Dudley, when the 33-year-old raider struck at 7.15pm on June 8.

Prosecutor Mark Rees said Timmins waited for the store to empty of shoppers before turning on Mr Khan.

Mr Rees added: "He produced a handgun from a bag he was carrying and pushed it into the stomach of the shop assistant who thought he was going to be shot.

"Timmins said: 'Give me the money.'

"But despite thinking he was going to be shot, Mr Khan grabbed hold of the gun and tried to wrestle it from the defendant.

"Then the gun broke and Mr Khan realised that it was a plastic toy."

At this stage Jamie Cartwright, who had accompanied Timmins in to the store, started throwing drink cartons around the store before smashing the front window.

A passing police car gave chase to the two men, said Mr Rees.

Timmins, from Mullett Street, Pensnett, admitted attempted robbery and possessing an immitation firearm and was jailed for three years.

Cartwright, 18, from Barnfield Road, Stourport, who played no part in the robbery and had not realised that the other man had a plastic gun, pleaded guilty to damaging the shop window.

He was remanded on bail for pre-sentence reports but was told he would not be locked up. He will be sentenced on July 31.

By John Scott