Domino’s driver tells of attack at gunpoint (From Swindon Advertiser)

Domino’s driver tells of attack at gunpoint

9:10pm Tuesday 12th March 2013 in News By Scott D'Arcy

A PIZZA delivery driver has described the moment two thugs threatened him with a gun following a hoax call.

Antony Williamson, 52, stood his ground when Antonio Barbieri, 20, and pal Leam Romain, 19, ambushed him outside a house in Downton Road. Both men were jailed last Friday.

When he arrived shortly before 4.30am the pair, who were both drunk, approached him and Barbieri pulled out a replica Walther pistol, saying ‘give me the pizza.’ But Antony, who used to be in the Navy, said ‘that’s not a real gun’, before Barbieri hit him on back of the head with it and Romain punched him in the face.

Barbieri and Romain were jailed for four years and two years respectively, just weeks after the incident on February 9.

The father-of-two said: “The whole thing was a shock – I turned up at the address and knocked on the door but there was no answer. Then these two guys jumped me from behind.

“Barbieri said ‘have you got the pizza?’ and I said ‘yes’ and he pulled this gun out. It was realistic-looking and he beat me about the head with it.

“We had a tussle and the gun fell to the floor, he grabbed the gun and I grabbed the magazine, which I handed to police.

“I also lost my bottom dentures, which I did not realise until I got to the hospital. They must have fallen out when Romain punched me.

“They were not the brightest. Barbieri made the order from his own phone. I know his parents, which is the worst part.

“I enjoyed the job too. I had only been doing it for a month but I might give it up. My wife and kids say I should pack it in.

“I’m very, very wary now about going to the estates like Penhill late at night and I do get panic attacks.”

Antony, who returned to work the day after the attack, says he fears the same could happen again if more is not done to protect drivers.

He said: “I am worried this could happen to other drivers. A lot of them have been shocked by what happened to me and agree more could have been done to protect me.

“They took an order over £25 cash, which is more than we are allowed to carry, and they didn’t call back to check it was legitimate.

“Also they docked my wages as soon as it happened, even though I had to talk to the police and get patched up at the hospital, and said they would not pay for my dentures, which cost me £450.”

A spokesman for Domino’s Pizza said: “The safety of our drivers is paramount and written procedures about driver safety are issued to all team members prior to them going out on a delivery.

“Team members are also provided with strict guidelines on how to deal with an attempted robbery and are told they must always put their own safety first.

“Drivers are instructed to make cash drops after every delivery and are advised not to leave the store with more than £15.

“We are very proud of our delivery driver, Antony Williamson, although all drivers are told that they should never resist in such an incident as their safety is obviously of greater importance than their cargo.

“Antony was offered counselling and paid time off work after his recent attack and has voluntarily returned to work. “He has also been reimbursed for any loss of earnings and any items he lost during the incident will be replaced.”