Vodka-swigging bank robber armed with ‘gun’ held customers hostage

A convicted robber threatened to "blow the heads off" customers and staff at a Surrey bank.

Matthew Nutley, 36, marched into the Barclays' branch in Ashford and took everyone inside hostage at gunpoint. He forced them to the floor and ordered the bank manager to lock the doors.

He claimed he was carrying a bomb which would explode if he let go of the trigger during the raid in June.

Today Nutley, unemployed, of Ashford, pleaded guilty at Guildford crown court to robbery, false imprisonment, possession of an imitation firearm with intent to commit robbery, threats to kill, blackmail, possession of an offensive weapon and making a bomb hoax. He will be sentenced next month.

Nutley, who robbed an off-licence in 2003, handed a can of black spray paint to an employee and ordered him to spray the windows to prevent police seeing in. A customer was also given cable ties and told to everyone tie up. Wearing a white paper boiler suit, he handed similar suits to some of his hostages so police marksmen would not know who to shoot when he left the bank with his captives.

He told police negotiators he wanted £800,000 in cash and a helicopter for his escape. Nutley freed some hostages until only three were left but they escaped behind his back as he swigged from a bottle of vodka. After three hours he gave himself up.

The gun was found to be a toy sprayed black and the "bomb" was made of copper piping, wires and electrical tape.