A bungling bank robber with a distinctive gait because he had had one foot amputated has been locked up after a series of hapless blunders led to his arrest.

Former bank clerk Neil Page’s first foray into crime was spectacularly unsuccessful, Bradford Crown Court heard.

He was jailed for 16 months after a judge described the robbery at Barclays Bank, Idle, Bradford, as “extremely amateurish”.

Page’s catalogue of mistakes included: l leaving practice attempts of his note demanding money for the police to find. Page had discarded early versions as he decided they were not polite enough l putting on a scarf to hide his face after he had already been caught on CCTV at the bank l demanding cash from the “reserve” – giving away the fact he had worked in a bank l speeding off in his own car at such a rate that an indignant passer-by took the registration l throwing most of his £2,000 haul out of the vehicle window because he feared he was being pursued l being recognised by his “distinctive gait” due to him having had a foot amputated l Page’s former father-in-law, a police officer, recognised him from the CCTV footage.

Prosecutor Nigel Hamilton said the robbery took place on the afternoon of last October 26.

Page, 31, of Rowanberry Close, Eccleshill, Bradford, handed a note demanding cash from bank employee Sarah Bilney.

It stated: “I am armed” and Miss Bilney believed he had a weapon in his pocket. He demanded £2,000 and an extra £5,000 from the “reserve”.

Page fled with £2,000 leaving Miss Bilney crying in fear.

Police later found banknotes and drafts of the cash demand at his home. He told officers he had used swear words in his first attempts and discarded them as rude and vulgar.

His barrister, Michelle Colborne, said Page had worked in a bank in Yeadon, handling huge amounts of money with complete honesty.

He left that job and was made redundant from another one. His marriage failed and he suffered health problems. He racked up huge debts and had acted out of desperation.

A psychologist found Page suffered from obsessive compulsive disorder. He might have been tempted by the fantasy of committing a robbery and then acted it out, the court heard.

Judge Robert Bartfield said Page was “an intelligent and able member of society” until he hit problems.

But, jailing him, the judge said banks were vulnerable targets. Those who attacked them must expect immediate prison sentences.