A SEMI-PROFESSIONAL footballer has been jailed for five years for a gun-toting robbery at a village Post Office.

Eder Ruiz disguised himself in a bushy wig and joke horror teeth to threaten John and Patricia Garforth and raid £1,800 from Burley-in-Wharfedale Post Office, shortly after opening time on May 19 last year.

Ruiz, 25, who played for Leeds United Academy before a head injury ended his dream of becoming an elite professional footballer, was in debt and desperate, Bradford Crown Court heard.

He was convicted by a jury yesterday of robbing the Post Office, in Station Road, with a water pistol designed to look like a gun.

During the trial, the court heard that Ruiz entered the Post Office carrying an umbrella and a parcel and wearing a wig, a beard and moustache fashioned from black tape and joke horror teeth.

Mrs Garforth, who was assisting her husband at the Post Office, rushed to help Ruiz when he pretended to faint. Ruiz, formerly of Otley but now living in Manchester, leapt to his feet and pushed her backwards. She fell against the safe, suffering a badly bruised arm. Mr Garforth, who had been the village postmaster for 26 years, sustained a cut finger in the struggle to stop Ruiz getting behind the security screen.

Ruiz then drew an imitation gun and pointed it at the couple, demanding: “Open the safe. Open the safe.”

When he was told it was on a time-lock, he snatched £1,800 from the till.

Ruiz fled, grabbing his umbrella but leaving behind an old newspaper with his fingerprints on it.

His barrister, Paul Hodgkinson, said Ruiz was a promising footballer who still played at a semi-professional level. He was studying for a business management degree at Manchester University and his last conviction was in 2010, when he was locked up for 33 months for house burglaries and aggravated vehicle-taking.

The judge, Recorder Taryn Turner, said the robbery shattered the peace and tranquility of Burley-in-Wharfedale.

Mr and Mrs Garforth “gamely and bravely” tried to stop Ruiz getting any money until he produced the weapon.

“You used that gun to put the fear of God into them, I have no doubt about that at all,” she said.

Although Ruiz wore “an amateurish and obvious disguise” it was a well-thought-out robbery, with him coolly collecting his umbrella on the way out.

Labelling it “a very wicked crime”, Recorder Turner praised Mr and Mrs Garforth, saying their fright, upset and distress would have been obvious to Ruiz.

After the case, Detective Constable Rob Stevens, of Bradford District CID, said: “This was an extremely frightening and traumatic experience for the victims, who have served their community for many years.

“Ruiz was a desperate and dangerous individual who was prepared to sort his personal debts out through violent means, and I hope his victims will take some comfort that he is now behind bars.”