A 35-year-old man who tried to rob a Gloucester hotel of £200 while pretending he had a gun on him was locked in a room by quick-thinking staff and held prisoner until the police arrived, a court heard on Monday (May 9).

Ricky Sullivan, 35, of Horton Road, Gloucester, entered the Travelodge in St Ann Way in the city during the early hours of November 24, 2021, and spoke to a receptionist who asked if he could help, Gloucester Crown Court was told.

Prosecutor Alec Small said Sullivan responded by ordering the receptionist, Romeo Ndukiri, to put £200 in his bag. Sullivan indicated that he had a gun in his right pocket.

Magda Popaduik, the hotel manager, came out to see what was going on and she suggested they should all go into the office to get the money, said the prosecutor.

However, once Sullivan got inside the office the staff members quickly locked the door behind him and called the police.

The court saw CCTV footage which showed Sullivan initially waiting patiently in the belief that the staff had gone away to get the money. But then he realised he was locked in the room and started banging on the door shouting to be let out.

He then looked around to see if he could steal anything and was seen placing a number of TV remote controls in his bag.

The incident was likened by an onlooker in court to an episode of The Simpsons that was worthy of being included in an episode of 'Britain's Funniest Crimes.'

In his police interview Sullivan denied threatening the staff members or having a gun or any other kind of weapon.

Mr Small told the court that Sullivan also had to be sentenced for an offence dating back to December 28th 2019 in Weston-Super-Mare when police were suspicious of a group of known drug users hanging around outside the Sovereign Shopping Centre.

"Sullivan then walked past the shopping centre and was intercepted by the police. He was searched and found to have a small amount of drugs on him. His home was also searched and a total of 49 drug wraps valued at £1,000 were found containing both cocaine and heroin.

"His phone was also examined which confirmed that he was taking a wage from a drug dealer known as Yankee."

Nadeem Aullybocus defending Sullivan said: "Sullivan had a significant 10 year gap in his offending, but had fallen off the straight and narrow in 2019 after things in his life had gone wrong.

"At the age of six he was diagnosed with having attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and when the family moved to London his mother developed a drug habit and he was placed into care.

"He later moved back to Gloucester in the hope of getting away from the drug scene. However, he began mixing with the wrong crowd and got into trouble.

"He is considered as being a vulnerable person and possibly corruptible, but when he was arrested, he did not tell the police. The information came from the hospital where he had been treated for stab wounds.

"He was in debt to his dealers for his cannabis habit and he thought that be being a runner this would reduce his debt.

"While he has been in prison Sullivan has been learning a number of trades to better himself."

Sullivan pleaded guilty to robbery of Mr Ndukiri and Ms Popaduik at the Travelodge in Gloucester on November 24, 2021, and stealing television remotes of an unknown value. Sullivan also admitted possessing a quantity of class A drugs cocaine and heroin, on December 28, 2019 with intent to supply to another.

The judge, Recorder Sarah Regan told Sullivan: "You have an unenviable record of offending. Over time this has escalated in seriousness. I accept that you felt under pressure for these latest offences.

"I have no doubt that both members of staff at the Travelodge were petrified because of your actions and when you knocked on the door on a number of occasions demanding to be let out.

"They did not respond to your requests because they believed you had a weapon. Fortunately, the police arrived very quickly and arrested you.

"The drugs matter I understand is old and the delay in it coming to court is not your fault. It is accepted that you were exploited in the supply of drugs. However, only a custodial sentence can be justified for this offence."

Sullivan was sentenced to a total of 28 and-a-half months imprisonment. The judge ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs, and the forfeiture of £106 as the proceeds of crime and pay a victim surcharge.