Hunt for the 'Elephant Man': Picture released of hooded robber wanted by police

Police are hunting this robber who was captured on CCTV robbing a bookmakers – disguised as the Elephant Man.

The raider burst into Corals Racing in Chester Road, Streetly, West Midlands, at 4.45pm on Saturday, January 26, wearing a grey hooded mask made out of a t-shirt with two eye holes cut into the front.

He threatened staff with a knife who then managed to lock themselves in a back office before stealing £350 from the till and fleeing the shop.

West Midlands Police today released pictures of the raider who they nicknamed 'The Elephant Man' after the real-life deformed Joseph Merrick, who had a 1979 film made about him of the same name.

The robber is described as wearing mustard coloured trousers, a black quilted style jacket and had a grey t-shirt covering his face.The Elephant Man, played by John Hurt (Rex)

Detective Constable Martin Beebee, from Bloxwich CID, said: "This is one of the most unusual masked robbers we have encountered and he can only be described as looking like the Elephant Man.

"It's surprising he was able to see anything at all through this make-shift mask.

"However this was a disturbing incident for the members of staff who did the right thing by securing their safety and contacting police.

"We are appealing to members of the public to help us find the man responsible.

"There would have been a number of people in and around the area at the time of the robbery and we particularly want to hear from anyone who saw the man entering or leaving the shop, or anyone with any other information that can help us to identify him."

Anyone with information can call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.