Armed robbers who disguised themselves in wigs and women's clothing jailed

A gang who robbed a village post office disguised in wigs, hats and women’s clothing, with one being pushed in a wheelchair, have been jailed.

They targeted Boston Spa Post Office shortly before 9.30am on Monday, March 23 last year.

They were filmed on CCTV entering the shop with the older man being pushed in a wheelchair. Their bizarre disguises immediately aroused the suspicions of the postmaster and his son who were working behind the counter.

A number of customers fled the shop as robber Martin Pick pulled out a shotgun from under a blanket he had over his knees and jumped onto the counter demanding money.

A 17-year-old accomplice then produced what appeared to be a handgun and the pair forced open one of the tills and stole cash.

They demanded the postmaster open the safe but he told them there was no more money.

A number of people in the busy high street had become aware of the robbery and alerted police before planning to intervene with one man initially holding the door to the post office shut.

As the robbers ran from the shop they were pursued into the street by the postmaster. Members of the public also gave chase and pulled off the robbers’ hats and wigs and tried to detain the men as they attempted to escape in a stolen white Nissan Juke driven by Martin Pick’s older brother Mark.

During the struggle, the postmaster was hit over the head with a crowbar by one of the robbers who was then disarmed by a witness.

The Nissan pulled away but the offenders soon realised Martin Pick had been left behind and was being held down by members of the public.

The vehicle reversed back to where he was and one of the men emerged with the shotgun and fired it into the air.

This caused the people holding Martin Pick to release him and the three sped off. All the cash they had stolen was recovered at the scene of the struggle.

The car, which had been stolen in a burglary in Wetherby in February, was found on fire in nearby Beeches End a short time later. It had different registration plates, front and back, which had been stolen from two vehicles in Meanwood and Headingley over the weekend.

The men had switched to another car before leaving the area.

Martin Pick admitted the offences when he appeared at court and Mark was found guilty after a trial at Leeds Crown Court in November.

Martin Pick, of Willow Avenue, Clifford, was sentenced to 18 years; Mark Pick, aged 42, of Lea Farm Road, Leeds, was jailed for 16 years.

Judge Tom Bayliss QC commended the postmaster and the Boston Spa community for their bravery.