THIS WEEK IN 1986: Masked robber held up bank at gunpoint

Police swooped early the following morning on flats in various parts of bedsit land in Southsea.

During the raid on Lloyd’s Bank in High Street, Old Portsmouth, the balaclava-masked gunman escaped with £50 which he stole from a frightened elderly customer.

Terror came to the bank shortly after 2.30pm when the masked gunman walked in as a lone 64-year-old woman was sitting at a table about to make a deposit at the bank.

The gunman pointed his sawn-off shotgun at bank clerk, Keith Willington, threatened him, and demanded money to be put in a bag.

After the bank staff fell to the floor, the gunman turned on the customer.

This time, police said, he aimed the gun at the woman’s head and threatened that if staff did not hand over the money he would not hesitate to shoot her.

A police spokesman said: ‘Seconds later the man grabbed £50 from the woman and ran out.’