'Really amateurish and a moron' – Betfred robber slammed after bungled raid

A man who has admitted a "really amateurish" robbery of a bookmakers' cashier in Cheltenham has been given six months to "sort himself out" by a judge.

Teejay Bick, 29, of Walton Cardiff, Tewkesbury, appeared at Gloucester Crown Court on Wednesday to be sentenced for robbing Amy Forsyth of £25 at the Betfred shop in Coronation Square on March 29.

Judge Ian Lawrie QC described him as a "moron" but, having heard from Bick's defence lawyer Steven Masih, he decided to defer sentence until March 5 next year.

Bick was ordered to attend Gamblers Anonymous, maintain his job and save £2,500 for compensation to his victim.

At a previous hearing, Mr Masih described Bick's robbery as "really amateurish" and on Wednesday prosecutor Virginia Cornwall outlined just how unskilful he was.

The court heard Bick had stolen £25 from a Cheltenham Betfred shop after telling a cashier he had a knife

She told the court there were two women working at the shop when Bick managed to lure one of them out from behind the cashier's desk by saying a £20 note was stuck in one of the fixed odds betting terminals.

Once out in the public space, Bick pulled a balaclava over his face and claimed he had a knife. But the court heard Bick was so incompetent, the "eyeholes were in the wrong place". Nevertheless, the judge ruled Bick had "terrorised the women for 60 seconds".

The court heard one of the cashiers was pregnant, and although Bick did not produce a weapon the women believed his threat that he had one in his pocket.

Mr Masih told the judge Bick suffered from a gambling addiction but had a good job and a supportive relationship. The lawyer also said his partner had a very young child who Bick supported.

The judge ruled he would defer sentence to see if a "more productive" way forward could be found of dealing with Bick in six month' time if he complies with the terms of the deferment.

He warned Bick if he did not stick to the terms he would be jailed.

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