A bungling robber held up a securicor officer at gunpoint - and got away with just 2p coins.

Just moments before the raid courier David Bennett had been transporting huge quantities of notes to and from the HSBC bank in South Shields.

But by the time Stanley Bell, 42, told the officer "Give me the money or I will shoot you", Mr Bennett had just bags of one and two pence pieces in his hand.

Bell made off with just £40 worth of 2p coins which he then flung into nearby bushes. And as he tried to run away the hapless robber fell through a pub skylight. He was sent crashing to the ground and police found him trapped in the cellar.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how Mr Bennett, a securicor officer for 17 years, had taken five alarmed and smoke bomb protected boxes stuffed with cash into the bank at the Denmark Centre on Fowler Street, South Shields, on June 17.

Prosecutor Julian Smith told the court how Bell pounced when Mr Bennett was carrying just copper change.

At the time of the raid Bell was on police bail after being caught carrying a kitchen knife in Napier Street, South Shields, a few days earlier.

Bell, who was homeless after his wife threw him out of the house, admitted robbery and possessing an imitation fire arm with intent to commit an intictable offence.

He also admitted possessing an offensive weapon in relation to the kitchen knife.

Judge David Hodson said he accepted Bell was not a "sophisticated" criminal.

Defence barrister Paul Caulfield said Bell had been looking for ways to get some money so he could find somewhere to stay but had no particular plan.

Prosecutors accept the gun used in the raid was most likely to be a toy although it has never been found.

Judge David Hodson jailed Bell for five years.