Armed robber with underpants on his head runs into van during escape when disguise falls over his eyes

Underwear ‘appeared to obscure’ Jason Keogh’s view

An armed robber who disguised himself with a pair of underpants ran into a parked van when fleeing the scene because the garment slipped over his eyes.

Surveillance cameras captured Jason Keogh putting the black pants over his head in an alleyway near a Morrisons supermarket in Southgate, north London, last September.

Carrying a loaded revolver, he then stole a cash box from a G4S guard, Scotland Yard said in a statement.

Footage recorded after the theft shows the 44-year-old re-entering the alley and bouncing off a silver van, before removing the pants and making his escape.

The underwear “appeared to obscure his view”, London’s Metropolitan Police said. No shots were fired during the confrontation and the guard was not hurt.

“The stolen cash box was recovered a few hours later,” the force added. “It had not been breached and still contained the full amount of stolen cash. The handgun, a revolver, containing three rounds of live ammunition, was found discarded nearby.”

Forensic work led to Keogh’s identification and he was arrested at the end of November.

Jason Keogh, 44, has been jailed for armed robbery (Metropolitan Police)

He admitted robbery, possessing a firearm and possessing ammunition at London’s Old Bailey earlier this week and was sentenced to seven years and two months in prison.

“Despite the slightly comedic way Keogh disguised himself for this robbery, it shouldn’t detract from the fact this was a very serious offence that put people at real risk of harm,” said Detective Inspector Jason Barber, from the Met’s flying squad, after after the case had concluded.

“The sentence handed down reflects this serious nature. The flying squad will continue to robustly investigate all crimes of this nature and continue to protect the industry and public against such dangerous individuals.”