In a story that reads more like a comedy script than a serious crime, a would-be robber's attempt to hold up a Domino's pizza shop in Weston-super-Mare ended in complete failure and an eventual prison sentence.
Nathan Dawson, 36, entered the popular pizza chain on the Boulevard and approached the counter with what he likely thought was a threatening demeanour. However, his criminal ambitions quickly unravelled when he made his demand to staff: not for cash from the till, but for free pizza.
The bungled heist took an even more bizarre turn when staff refused his unusual request. Rather than escalating the situation or making demands for actual valuables, Dawson simply gave up and left the premises empty-handed.
But the story doesn't end there. In what can only be described as a spectacular lack of criminal intuition, Dawson returned to the same Domino's branch just hours later. This gave staff the perfect opportunity to alert authorities, leading to his swift arrest.
Appearing at Bristol Crown Court, Dawson faced justice for his inept crime spree. The court heard how his attempt at intimidation had failed miserably, resulting in no stolen property and no injuries, but still constituting a criminal offence.
The judge sentenced Dawson to 12 months in prison, serving as a stark reminder that even comically incompetent criminal attempts carry serious consequences. The case has left many wondering whether Dawson was more hungry than dangerous, though the law makes no such distinction when it comes to attempted robbery.
This incident joins the annals of Britain's most peculiar crime stories, proving that reality can sometimes be stranger than fiction when it comes to criminal misadventures.
