Bungling bank robber imprisoned

Glasgow High Court heard Mitchell owed a drug debt

A former Stranraer footballer who robbed a bank with a toy gun, dropped £46,000 as he fled and was caught by a member of the public has been jailed.

Allan Mitchell, 27, from Glasgow, admitted robbing a city centre branch of the Bank of Scotland on 9 May.

Judge Lord Macphail jailed Mitchell for five-and-a-half years.

His defence said the robbery was "one of the most ill-planned and ill-executed ever committed" and was carried out to pay a £20,000 drug debt.

The court heard Mitchell, of Springboig Road, Springboig, ripped off his balaclava in full view of customers when notes fell from his bag.

When he fled he was chased by a motorist who wrestled him to the ground and held him until police arrived.

Staff counselling

Mitchell admitted assaulting three members of staff by waving an imitation firearm at them, forcing them to open a safe and robbing them of £136,000.

The gun belonged to his son.

Lord Macphail told Mitchell: "Bank staff are vulnerable to attacks like this.

"The best that can be said is that all the money was recovered and neither the bank staff nor Mr Galbraith sustained any injury."

Gary Allan, defending, said: "Initially Mr Mitchell embarked on a professional football career in one of the lower divisions but then started taking drugs and became addicted.

"He eventually owed £20,000 to his suppliers.

"Owing £20,000 to a bank is bad enough but owing that sum to people who are not averse to strong arm tactics is a problem."

Bank staff at the Trongate branch were badly affected by the raid and all have received counselling.