A ‘desperate’ man tried to rob a bank using a vape disguised as a gun only to have his bizarre heist foiled when staff walked out to alert police.

CCTV footage from the incident in January shows Gary Fishlock handing a note to bank clerk at a HSBC branch in Broadstairs, Kent, which read: ‘I have a gun, put the money in the bag.’

Fishlock then gestured he had a gun in his coat pocket but this was in fact a ‘large black vape’ which the 64-year-old pushed forward to suggest he was armed and in his other hand he held out a crumpled plastic bag. 

The baffled staff were able to set off a personal alarm and armed police rushed to the scene where the e-cigarette wielding Fishlock was arrested.

Appearing at Canterbury Crown Court yesterday, Fishlock admitted attempted robbery and possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and was jailed for two years.

The court heard that Fishlock was in a ‘desperate spiral’ after being kicked out of the family home and losing his job as a stonemason in quick succession.

Facing homelessness, the court heard he chose to become incarcerated instead, without harming anyone.

Judge Alison Russell told Fishlock, of Birchington in Kent, that his actions caused unimaginable fear and panic to the bank staff he threatened.

CCTV footage from the incident in January shows Gary Fishlock handing a note to bank clerk at a HSBC branch in Broadstairs, Kent, which reads: ‘I have a gun, put the money in the bag’

Appearing at Canterbury Crown Court yesterday, Fishlock admitted attempted robbery and possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and was jailed for two years

Sentencing, she said: ‘The fear and panic must have been considerable.

‘I accept your motives appear to have been borne of desperation and even a deliberate wish to be arrested, due to the desperate situation you found yourself in.

‘Your view [was that] prison would be better than being homeless. These offences may seem to have been relatively trivial, but I disagree.

‘Members of the public are free to go about shopping centres without the fear that someone will rock up with a note claiming to have a gun.

‘Members of bank staff have the right to go to work without expecting this.’

Fishlock had attended the HSBC branch shortly after being told by his employers on Christmas Eve last year they had no more work for him as a stonemason.

His partner of 14 years had also recently ended their relationship and kicked him out of the house.

Faced with living on the streets, Fishlock travelled to the bank.

Judge Russell said: ‘It was about half past one on the afternoon of Thursday, January 29 this year, at a shopping centre called Westwood Cross.

The court heard that Fishlock entered the HSBC branch on January 29 this year armed with a black vape 

‘There was a branch of HSBC. The doors open onto a large open area, with cash machines on one side and a member of staff.

‘That afternoon, it was Eleanor Gater’s turn to work on the [customer service] podium, greeting members of the public.’

The Judge described Ms Gater as an ‘an experienced member of staff’ who in her 15 years working in the sector had ‘never before encountered an offence such as this’.

She continued: ‘You produced a piece of paper and handed it to her to read. The note read: “I have a gun, put the money in the bag”.

‘At the same time, you gestured with a carrier bag, the clear intention being that you had a weapon concealed.

‘With great level-headedness and calmness, Ms Gater took the time to write a note on a tablet and then, calmly, she went to approach one of her colleagues, Tanya Pinn.

‘You followed her towards Ms Pinn. When Ms Gater walked round, you began to say things like, “Where’s your money? Give me money”.’

Ms Pinn was able to set off her personal alarm before the two women went into an office where they called the police and security. 

The Judge said: ‘CCTV footage of the attempted robbery shows it lasted a little over five minutes, the majority of which was you hanging around before leaving voluntarily.

‘You didn’t, in fact, have a gun. What you had was some form of vape device in your pocket, which you gestured with, with the intention to make Ms Gater and Ms Pinn believe you had a gun.

‘One can only imagine the fear and the panic that Ms Gater must have felt upon initial reading of your note.

‘She didn’t know there was no gun. She didn’t know what you would do, or if any attempt when you were leaving the podium could have led to violence or being shot.

‘Ms Gater was the victim of your conduct. It has continued to affect her. You did threaten with a weapon – albeit an imitation firearm.’

Judge Russell acknowledged that Fishlock was ‘clearly in something of a crisis’ at the time of the offence.   

Prosecutor Paul Valder told the court that, after five minutes waiting for something to happen, Fishlock waited for armed police to arrive and arrest him.

Mr Valder said he had told police under interview that he’d had a vape in his pocket, which he had his hand on, which ‘made it look like a weapon’.

‘[Ms Gater] was scared,’ he told the court. ‘Her stomach dropped. She struggled with anxiety after the incident.’

Fishlock later admitted to attempted robbery and possession of an imitation firearm, with intent to cause fear of violence.

Kieran Brand, defending, told the court his client’s life had come ‘crashing down’ at the end of last year, adding: ‘He found himself jobless, homeless, and fell into depression.

‘He’s deeply sorry for the harm and shock caused to the members of staff at the bank.’

Judge Russell added that she would make an order for the vape Fishlock used as an imitation firearm to be destroyed.