A FORMER crack addict walked into a bank with a note demanding money then sat down and waited to be arrested, a court was told. 

Rosevan Mahroof admitted displaying a visible representation with intent to cause fear or provoke violence, at Hendon Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

The 37-year-old walked in to HSBC bank in Willesden Green on September 21 and presented a note to the cashier which said ‘Give me all the money and no one gets hurt’. 

The cashier, Tarla Patel, pressed her personal panic button and the police arrived five minutes later to find Mr Mahroof sitting, waiting patiently. 

Prosecuting, Balbir Patel, said: “He presented the note and then walked away and sat in the waiting area. He said at the time ‘I wasn’t thinking straight, I needed help’ and said that he had come up with this plan 30 minutes before to get himself arrested.”

The court heard Mr Mahroof had made the threat because he wanted to return to prison as had previously been in Wormwood Scrubs, where he had been receiving regular methadone treatment for his drug addiction. 

Defence solicitor, Michael Chase, said: “The facts speak for themselves, there was no intention to rob, he wanted to get himself into custody. 

“He has been on and off crack and went to Westminster drug project five or six weeks before the events in September and was given an appointment. He would have to wait three or four weeks for a care plan. He described himself as depressed and suicidal.”

The hearing was to determine whether he would be granted bail and Mr Mahroof, of Chase Side, Enfield, was released on conditional bail that he must not enter any branch of HSBC while reports are prepared ahead of his next hearing on October 30.