Bank robber foiled by window cleaner who spots fake gun

A man that stopped a potential armed robbery at a bank in Coulsdon has said he chased the robber out of the bank with "a few choice words" and a fire extinguisher.

Speaking to Good Morning Britain, James Rowley said he knew the gun was a fake when the man called for his accomplice to "bring in the other gun".

He then ran out of the bank and Mr Rowley followed and chased him up the street. He managed to apprehended the man and hold him until the police arrived.

Mr Rowley has since been presented with a Commendation for his actions by Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley.

James Rowley was presented with a Commendation for his actions by Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley. He was also given £1,200 from the sheriff's fund for his bravery.

A window cleaner, who was in a "bad mood" disarmed a bank robber and chased him down the street in south London - and held him there until police arrived. James Rowley was at Lloyds Bank in Coulsdon when Andrew Fernandez suddenly burst in and waved a gun at the cashier.

But James Rowley spotted that the gun was fake, and chased him out the branch. Speaking to the Evening Standard, he said:

"I was in a bad mood. I'd been dashing around all morning like a headless chicken trying to get the cheques and money together to pay the bills."

James Rowley added: "I was at the counter and I saw this guy walk in with a crash helmet on. I just thought 'here we go'. I knew what was going to happen next and I wasn't in the mood for it."