Staff members recognized the clumsy gunman’s unusual chin during an armed robbery at his neighborhood Morrisons, and they were able to stop him.
Wesley Dickson, 39, tried to pull off a failed stick-up with a sawn-off shotgun and a hoodie covering his face, but his cliffhanging jawline was simply too prominent to conceal.
The employees at the Morrisons supermarket in Heywood, Greater Manchester, immediately recognized Dickinson as a regular client once they noticed his unusual chin.
Dickson ran away after a supervisor pressed the panic alarm, but police later found him hiding in his loft at the home he shares with his mother just 350 yards away from the store.
Officers also seized a sawn off Webley bolt action shotgun used in the bungled raid which was hidden under some equipment in the family shed.
Dickson was jailed for six years after he admitted attempted robbery and possession of a firearm at Manchester Crown Court.
The raid occurred at around 5.30pm on July 12 last year, whilst retail supervisor Barry Chambers was dealing with customers alongside his assistant Natalie McKenzie.
Kate Gaskell, prosecuting, said: ‘He noticed the defendant enter the shop wearing a hooded jumper done up tight to partially reveal his identity.
However, Mr Chambers still recognised the defendant as he was a regular visitor to the shop. The defendant made his way towards the counter whilst Mr Chambers was occupied in retrieving cigarettes from behind the counter.
‘When he turned around he saw the defendant standing with a shotgun in his left hand and a bin bag in his right hand. He began gesticulating aggressively and threatening the customers in the store.
‘He then targeted Mr Chambers and demanded he hand over a key to the safe.’
‘Mr Chambers replied saying he had no access to the till. At this point the defendant turned round and pointed the shotgun at the customers and told them to stand still. He then pressed the shotgun to Mr Chambers head, leaned over the counter and told him again to get his keys.
‘Mr Chambers had pressed the panic button at this point and the defendant, realising that he couldn’t get into the safe, fled the shop empty handed.’
They added: ‘Officers attended the defendant’s mother’s property in Heywood the next day. Although he was not present, his mother, who he lives with, allowed the police to enter.
‘After a search of the house they found the shotgun buried under a pile of gardening equipment in a metal shed at the bottom of the garden.’
Officers returned to the property on July 16 and found Dickinson hiding in the loft. He claimed to have had plans to hand himself in, but gave no comment during the interview.
In a statement to police Mr Chambers said: ‘I was shocked and concerned for the safety of everyone in the store. I also feared for my own life. I had to keep calm and comfort my colleague Natalie who was crying.’
‘I suffered a heart attack last year and subsequently had an operation on my heart. This incident has exacerbated my pre-existing issues and made me fear for my health again. I was unable to sleep a week after the incident.’
‘When I finally returned to work I found myself constantly checking the door out of fear. Now thankfully an automatic lock has since been fitted on the door, which allows me to control who has access to the shop during the evening.’
Dickson, who has one previous conviction for a violent offence back in 2012 claimed to have no recollection of his motivation for the raid.
His counsel David Bruce said: ‘He is a recovering heroin addict who began his addiction in his teens- this caused him to self harm and experience withdrawal.’
But during sentencing, Judge Philip Barnes told Dickson: ‘Your need for money and drugs clearly motivated your offending.
‘It takes no genius to see that you robbed the shop for money and these drugs have taken a hold over your mind.’
‘You carried a sawn-off shotgun, which is made for one purpose. They are easier to carry and conceal. It was only for the actions of the workers that the robbery was only an attempted one. But this was an extremely distressing event for them.’