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Boy, 15, admits 'video game' style Anfield bank robbery | Boy, 15, admits 'video game' style Anfield bank robbery |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A 15-year-old boy who admitted robbing a bank with an imitation firearm acted as if he was in a "real-life video game", a court has heard. | A 15-year-old boy who admitted robbing a bank with an imitation firearm acted as if he was in a "real-life video game", a court has heard. |
The schoolboy, described as a "model pupil", stole £2,000 when he held up Barclays Bank in Liverpool on Friday. | The schoolboy, described as a "model pupil", stole £2,000 when he held up Barclays Bank in Liverpool on Friday. |
His mother called police when she found the cash, stained with dye, and a fake firearm when she tided his bedroom, Liverpool Youth Court was told. | |
He will be sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on 15 October. | He will be sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on 15 October. |
The court heard the teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was motivated by "greed" when he carried out the raid at 11:50 BST in Breck Road. | |
'Bizarre, surreal case' | 'Bizarre, surreal case' |
During the robbery, the boy told a cashier: "Don't do anything stupid. I have just got out of prison after five years", prosecutor Debra Chan said. | |
No bank workers were hurt. | |
The boy told officers he planned the raid and went on a stake-out of the bank a couple of days before. | |
He targeted a bank because he thought it would have the "most money", the prosecution claimed. | |
The teenager pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery and one count of possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence. | |
District Judge Ian Lomax said: "This is a very serious matter. | District Judge Ian Lomax said: "This is a very serious matter. |
"It's an armed robbery but not in the conventional sense most people would recognise. | "It's an armed robbery but not in the conventional sense most people would recognise. |
"It's a bizarre, surreal case of a young man almost acting like a real-life action video game. | "It's a bizarre, surreal case of a young man almost acting like a real-life action video game. |
"Nevertheless it was a robbery." | "Nevertheless it was a robbery." |
'Full, frank confession' | |
The boy was not known for misbehaving and admitted to police he was envious of other people's material possessions, the court was told. | The boy was not known for misbehaving and admitted to police he was envious of other people's material possessions, the court was told. |
He told police: "I robbed it (the bank) with a BB gun." | |
He was confronted by his family after the cash and weapon were placed on the living room table. | |
Esther Leach, defending, said he made a "full, frank and elaborate confession". | |
She added: "He is doing fantastically well at school. He comes from a very, very good family." | |
The judge added his crime was "motivated by greed and immaturity" and influences that may have included "another pupil" or something he had "been watching or playing". | The judge added his crime was "motivated by greed and immaturity" and influences that may have included "another pupil" or something he had "been watching or playing". |
The 15-year-old was granted conditional bail until sentencing. |