Black Prisoner on Day Release Attempts Bank Robbery

The Argus
January 19, 2014

Al-Fodday Fofanah
Al-Fodday Fofanah pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted armed robbery, two counts of possession of an imitation firearm and escaping from custody.

An armed robber on day release from a Sussex prison tried to hold up a Barclay’s bank and was apprehended by a police officer, a trainee ambulance driver, two roofers, two security officers, a bank manager and an ice cream vendor.

Al-Fodday Fofanah, 30, who was serving a sentence at Ford Open Prison near Arundel, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to two counts of attempted armed robbery, two counts of possession of an imitation firearm and escape from custody after his attempts to rob the bank were foiled. Woolwich Crown Court was told Fofanah fled Ford on July 18 after being released for the day.

On the afternoon of July 25 he visited Barclays Bank in Borough High Street, London.

He joined the queue and waited to be served.