Stylist tells of horrifying moment raider struck

A plucky Fleetwood hairdresser has told how she stood up to a menacing would-be thief who came into the salon and demanded cash from the till.
Police have released CCTV images of a man following a botched robbery at Christopher Bennett Hairdressing, on Poulton Road, Fleetwood. The pictures were taken when he was loitering in a nearby convenience store moments earlier.Police have released CCTV images of a man following a botched robbery at Christopher Bennett Hairdressing, on Poulton Road, Fleetwood. The pictures were taken when he was loitering in a nearby convenience store moments earlier.
Police have released CCTV images of a man following a botched robbery at Christopher Bennett Hairdressing, on Poulton Road, Fleetwood. The pictures were taken when he was loitering in a nearby convenience store moments earlier.

The woman, who does not wish to be named, was working at the Christopher Bennett Hairdressing salon, Poulton Road when the man came in.

With a baseball cap pulled over his eyes and a balaclava covering his mouth, he shouted his demands for cash three times, but when the lone employer refused to open the till and the shop’s three customers told him to leave, he backed off and left.

But the foiled robber said as he left: “I’ll be back!”

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The salon worker spoke about the incident after police this week issued CCTV images (pictured) of a man they believe could have vital information about the bungled raid, which happened on June 19.

She said: “I was the only stylist in the shop, with three customers, when this man walked in and abruptly, aggressively told me to open the till. I thought he was taking the mickey, so I said no. When he said it a second time, even more aggressively, I thought ‘oh my God, this is real’.

“I told him I didn’t know how to, but he shouted a third time and I just told him I wouldn’t. Then the customers told him to get lost and he backed out and went. He had something behind his back, and as he left he said he’d be back.”

The stylist was so shaken she phoned her boss and asked if the shop could be closed, and she rang the police. She added: “I’m so grateful the customers backed me up. If I’d been by myself, I don’t know what I’d have done. It shook me up. I’m better now, but I still won’t walk to the shops at night by myself.”

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Police, who believe the man may also have been planning to hold up a nearby convenience store just minutes earlier, are appealing for the public to help.

Det Sgt Kathryn Riley, of Blackpool CID, said: “He has been quite threatening but they all stood up to him and he left empty handed.”

Anyone with information which could help identify the man is asked to call Blackpool CID on (01253) 607240, quoting crime number BC1407635.