Man wanting to go to prison released with a caution

A MAN who had lost everything staged an armed robbery at a bank in Malaga in order to be sent to prison. But his plan backfired and following a court hearing he was released with a caution.

The 35-year-old had been forced to shut down his business premises and was unable to pay his mortgage. He burst into a La Caixa branch with his face uncovered, wielding a kitchen knife and a long wooden pole.

“This is a hold-up and I am armed, but I am not going to harm you or steal anything. Please call the police,” he reportedly told the staff.

While waiting for the police to arrive, staff carried on working and attending to customers and answering the telephone, despite the man holding a knife in their midst. When they arrived, a trained negotiator from the force called the bank to speak to the armed man, who told them he intended to give himself up and would be found on his knees in the branch with his weapons on a table a distance away.

It was not even necessary for officers to handcuff him as they lead him to a patrol car after reading him his rights. His head was covered with a green jacket on the way out in compliance with his request.