Bolton: Man used fake gun in TK Maxx theft attempt

Helmet Ahmed, 37, used his fake gun after a security guard at TK Maxx on Newport Street challenged him after he tried to leave the store with a stolen jacket.

Despite his many years of experience, the guard was left extremely shaken by the experience, Bolton Crown Court heard, believing at the time that the imitation gun could have been real.

A statement ready by Alison Mather, prosecuting, said: “This incident has made me feel numb, shocked and frightened.

“I have worked for this store for 20 years and this is the worst incident I have ever dealt with.”

The case was heard at Bolton Crown Court (Image: Newsquest)

Ms Mather told the court how Ahmed, of Derby Street, Bolton, was spotted walking around the store wearing a jacket he had taken from one of the racks by the guard on September 1 this year.

Ahmed was captured on CCTV trying to remove tags and heading for the stairwell seemingly trying to make his way out of the store with the jacket he had taken.

But when the guard tried to confront him, he at first tried to claim that he simply wanted to buy the jacket.

Matters escalated when the guard saw what appeared to be a gun in a holster under his jacket.

When Ahmed, who has 28 previous convictions for 47 offences, appeared to reach for the gun, the guard let him go and immediately alerted his colleagues.

Police firearms officers were called, and Ahmed was arrested soon after when he was found with the gun, which turned out to be fake, and a lock knife.

He pleaded guilty to both possession of a knife in a public place and to using an imitation firearm to make his victim believe that "unlawful violence" would be used against him at a hearing on October 7.

Graham Rishton, defending, argued that Ahmed deserved credit for having pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and claimed that he was deeply remorseful for his actions.

He added that Ahmed, who appeared before the court via video link from prison, had not done any physical harm to the guard or anyone else, despite the distress he had caused.

He said: “This was an unsophisticated offence, it was an erratic, impulsive act committed by the defendant.”

Mr Rishton also pointed out that Ahmed had a history of mental health issues stemming from a childhood spent growing up in Iraq.

He said: “This is something that has been an ongoing battle for him.”

ALSO READ: 'BB gun' man carried knife in Bolton town centre

ALSO READ: More than 100 knives taken off the street in police operation

But Recorder Andrew Long reminded the court that Ahmed had deliberately used the fake gun to intimidate his victim and that he appeared to have brought it with him to TK Maxx intending to do exactly that.

He said: “You intended to use the imitation firearm if necessary if you were caught by any store detective who got in your way and of course that is exactly what happened.”

Recorder Long sentenced Ahmed to a total of nine months in prison.