A NOVELIST who penned a story about a failed bank raid is to stand trial in Germany for carrying out a heist identical to the one he wrote about.

    Like the character in his book, the writer found himself struggling to make ends meet and so decided to rob a bank.

    But like in the book, things didn’t go according to plan. On Jan. 26 this year, in a district of Leipzig, he entered a bank wearing a mask and carrying a starting pistol.

    He threatened staff and ordered customers to lie on the floor.

    After getting the counter cash he ordered a teller to open the safe which was protected by a time delay system. After 25 minutes on the premise he fled with the euro equivalent of £32,000 (US$41,942).

    But the delay meant police were en route and arrested him as he got outside.

    In his book the villain flees on a bike and changes clothes hidden behind an oak tree.

    In real life the robber novelist had a bike ... and clothes hidden behind an oak tree.

    State prosecutor Hans-Joachim Walburg charged the unnamed man, 49, with extortion under threat of force, extortionate abduction and illegally carrying a starting pistol.

    According to his defense lawyer, Stephan Bonell, the defendant will make a “full confession” when he comes to trial next month.

    (SD-Agencies)