Bungling bank robber caught after staff recognised him as a regular customer

A drunken robber who tried to hold up his own bank branch was caught out after staff recognised him as a regular customer who had been in earlier the same day.

Charlie Enright, 28, claimed he had a gun and demanded cash during the ill-considered heist attempt at his local bank in Sheerness, Kent, at 4pm in the afternoon.

He left empty-handed after staff put up security screens and sent the intoxicated robber packing.

Workers quickly identified the culprit as Enright - who had come in earlier the day to withdraw money.

During police interviews he suggested he had been armed with a water pistol, although bank staff said they saw no weapons during the incident.

Enright later pleaded guilty to robbery and was sentenced to 16 months in prison at a hearing Maidstone Crown Court on Monday 1 August.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Charlene Smith said: "Charlie Enright has a problem with drink and drugs but that is no excuse for committing such a serious crime.

"Staff at the bank acted in a very calm and professional manner throughout the incident but it would have been understandable for them to have been deeply distressed given that he made mention of having a gun."