Robber claims 'gun' was a banana in a bag

A man has admitted robbing a post office with an imitation gun - but a court has disputed his claim that the item was a banana in a plastic bag.

Ashley Asquith, 42, stole £6,000 from the till during the robbery on Allerton Road in Bradford in February.

He pleaded guilty to robbery and possessing an imitation firearm at Bradford Crown Court on Friday, and the court was told that the "weapon" was concealed.

However, Asquith said he had admitted the charge on the basis that it was actually a piece of fruit inside the bag.

Prosecuting, Eddison Flint told Judge Kirstie Watson that he did not accept Asquith's version of events and argued that the item had been an imitation gun or something designed to resemble one.

However, he said that if CCTV footage of the incident did not rule out the presence of a banana, the prosecution could accept the defendant's explanation.

Defending, Fuad Arshad said there was no evidence of the sighting of a gun or an outline of a gun.

Judge Watson agreed that the prosecution needed time to look at the evidence and footage and consider whether the basis of Asquith's plea was acceptable.

She told Asquith that there may need to be a "trial of the issue" over whether or not what he had in the bag was a banana, and whether that would make a difference to his sentence.

But she warned Asquith that he had admitted "serious matters" and would likely be jailed.

Asquith was remanded back into custody, and is due to return to court on 6 June.

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