THIS is the moment brave post office workers disarmed a thief after he unsuccessfully tried to rob their workplace with a ‘gun’.
A High Court judge praised the workers’ bravery after watching “terrifying” footage of Robert Danskin attempting to rob a local NISA store in Abbey View, Dunfermline, in June 2024.
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Robert Danskin failed to rob the post office with his imitation gun
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The judge praised the workers for their brave act
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Passers-by came to the aid of the shop staff
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Denmark was disarmed by the post office staff
The footage shows Danskin brandishing an imitation gun – described as ‘indistinguishable’ from a real weapon’ by staff.
He demands staff member Cheryl Gourlay fill a bag with money before jumping over the counter and attacking her by grabbing her body.
But brave Cheryl stood in front of the register and refused to comply with his demands.
Then she shouted to her colleagues who ran to help her.
Her colleagues ran to the counter to help her – wrestling Danskin to the ground.
A staff member knocked Danska’s gun out of his hand as he punched him.
His colleagues removed Danska’s balaclava from his head, wrestled him to the ground and held him there until the police arrived to arrest him.
The High Court in Edinburgh heard how the 36-year-old conman entered the shop wearing a balaclava brandishing a weapon which prosecutor Anna Chishoim described in court as a “realistic” imitation gun.
She also said it looked “indistinguishable” from a real gun.
Ms Chisholm said: “Cheryl Gourlay told him he wasn’t getting any money.”
Court staff showed the minute-long incident recorded by CCTV cameras.
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The court heard that Danskin was convicted of a similar offense in 2007. This prompted Lord Scott to postpone the sentence.
Lord Scott said: “I tend to ask for reports. Regardless of the genuine bravery of a number of individuals who intervened, this must have been a terrifying incident in which no one but the accused was aware that it was not a real firearm.”
The story emerged after Danskin, also from Dunfermline, pleaded guilty to assaulting Cheryl Gourlay while wearing a face mask.
The charge Danskin pleaded guilty to said he acted aggressively while demanding money and brandishing an imitation firearm at her.
He also admitted to grabbing her and pulling her by the body while trying to steal her money.
Footage of the botched raid went viral on X earlier this year.
Social media users saw Danskin climbing over the post office counter in an alleged attempt to take the contents of the cash register.
Users of social networks called the man who disarmed Danskin Bob.
They witnessed him punching Danskin in the head before wresting the gun from him with the help of other staff.
More than 27,000 people have liked and shared messages of support under the video of the incident, which has been viewed more than two million times on Xu.
Community members in Dunfermline then launched a fundraising drive to thank post office staff for putting “their lives at risk” to disarm the robber and “save” customers.
On Wednesday, Ms Chisholm said that after his arrest, Danskin told officers he was not a “bad person”.
She said he was in debt to drug dealers and was worried they would harm him and his partner.
She added: “He said ‘me and my girlfriend are £1,000 in debt. In a weird way, I wanted to get caught so I could go to jail and be safe there.”
Ms Chisholm also told the court that police officers examined the firearm and found it to be an Airsoft gun – Airsoft is a game similar to paintball.
A deputy solicitor said the gun was originally covered in blue paint to comply with firearms legislation.
She added: “But it was removed at some point. This gives it the appearance of a realistic imitation of a firearm.”
Ms Chisholm also said it was “indistinguishable” from a “real firearm” in appearance.
Defense barrister Ann Ogg asked Lord Scott to postpone the sentence.
She added, “Your lordship might call for a report.”
Lord Scott agreed and told Danskin he had committed a “frightening offence”.
He will be sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow on November 7, 2024.
Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: HIS Education