DESPICABLE PLEA | 

Unmasked: Face of man (47) accused of robbing shop dressed as a Minion

Jonathan Carey has already handed back £110 and said ‘sorry’, a court heard this week.

Today at 17:52

This is the unmasked Minion who apologised for robbing a shop while allegedly armed with a knife and dressed as a character from kids movie Despicable Me.

Jonathan Carey is accused of forcing a teenage member of staff at the Day Today shop on the Antrim Road to hand over cigarettes and £250 in cash.

A court heard that Carey, of Kinnaird Close, Belfast, was wearing a mask and was dressed like a Minion when he raided the store close to his home on October 17.

This week the court was told he has already handed back £110 and said “sorry”.

Minions are small, yellow, capsule-shaped creatures who have one or two eyes.

They were the signature antagonists of the Despicable Me movie series, as well as a number of spin-off films which made millions of pounds at the box office.

During a failed bail application, the High Court was also told on Friday that 47-year-old Carey had been detained the next day. When shown CCTV footage of the incident, he had offered an apology.

He was identified and arrested after an image of the raider decked out as one of the creatures from the Despicable Me movies was posted on social media, the court heard.

Carey was refused bail on charges of robbery and possessing an offensive weapon in connection with the hold-up almost two weeks ago. He has been in custody since he was arrested. Prosecution counsel Mark Conlon said a masked man in a Minion outfit took the money and cigarettes at knife-point.

A 17-year-old boy was on duty behind the till when the store was targeted, the court was told.

Staff at a neighbouring retailer viewed the shop’s footage and realised the man had been in their premises earlier that evening dressed in the same costume but without any mask.

Carey was detained when he returned to that shop the following day.

“His home was searched and a Minion onesie was located at the property,” Mr Conlon disclosed.

Carey faces further charges of possessing Class B and Class C drugs.

During police interviews, he initially claimed to have no memory of the incident because he had been taking Diazepam for several days.

But the court heard that after Carey was shown CCTV footage of the incident, he offered an apology.

Defence barrister Luke Curran argued that his client also expressed remorse at the scene and returned £110 in cash.

Denying bail, Mr Justice Fowler said it must have been a highly frightening experience for the 17-year-old shop assistant.

The judge added: “Robbery in such circumstances by someone with a mask and knife, albeit in a Minion outfit which is easily identifiable, is highly likely to attract a custodial sentence.”