Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Betting shop raider jailed for four years
AN armed robber who left a town in lockdown after a masked raid on a bookies has been jailed for four years.
Edward Murphy walked into the Logan Bet shop in Brechin with his face covered by a Rangers scarf and went up to the counter demanding cash.
Although Murphy was armed with a knife, teller Edward Nutten sat still in his chair while punters continued watching television. Eventually, with no cash forthcoming and shop customers telling him to get out, Murphy fled.
When police were summoned they closed various streets in the area.
They used trained sniffer dogs to join the hunt and Murphy was later traced.
Murphy, 39, a prisoner at Perth, admitted that on February 16, at Logan Bet, 45-47 Clerk Street, Brechin, he assaulted Edward Nutten, while his face was partially covered, presented a knife and demanded money with intent to rob him.
Solicitor John Boyle told Dundee Sheriff Court that Murphy was no longer taking drugs and was receiving medication for his mental health problems.
He said: “He is considerably apologetic for his disgraceful behaviour.”
Mr Boyle asked the sheriff to consider placing Murphy on a community payback order under supervision to allow him to address the various issues in his life and said the background reports suggested he was suitable for such an order.
Sheriff Alastair Brown told Murphy: “I recognise you committed the offence while you were under the influence of drugs, but that isn’t mitigation.”
He said that due to the nature of the offence and Murphy’s record, there was no alternative to a custodial sentence and jailed him for four years.