A courageous woman post office worker foiled an at

A courageous woman post office worker foiled an attempted
robbery by diving to the floor when faced with a gun, a court heard
today (Monday).

Kokolia Patel, 28, refused bandit Hussein Bilal’s demands
for cash – even though he aimed a pistol at her face.

Thwarted, 20-year-old ex-soldier Bilal ran empty-handed
from the sub post office in Hermitage Lane, Streatham, and fled in
a waiting mini-cab.

However, a patrolling policeman saw the criminal escaping
and immediately chased and quickly caught him.

Bilal, of no fixed address in the Streatham area, was today
(Monday) found guilty by a jury’s unanimous verdict of attempted
robbery and having an imitation firearm with intent to rob on May 26
this year.

He denied both charges.

Judge John Rogers QC, who said he agreed ‘whole heartedly’
with the jury’s verdicts, and sentenced Bilal to a total of five years
detention in a young offenders institution.

‘Such offences are rife,’ the judge said.

‘Such premises as sub post offices are unprotected.

‘
Bilal’s mother in the public gallery broke down in tears as
her son was led away to the cells.

Bilal’s brother, comforting his mother, was also teary eyed
as he waved farewell to the defendant.

The court heard that Bilal has been unemployed since his
discharge from the Royal Army Ordinance Corp with a leg injury more
than a year ago.

His defence counsel Mr Quentin Purdy said Bilal was with the
army for just a few months when he suffered the injury.

ENDS