Man tried to rob shop with nail file

A man armed himself with a nail file and tried to rob a Bellshill post office.

Jordan Hamill told a member of staff to fill a bag with cash but fled after another employee pressed an alarm.

He handed himself in at Bellshill police station less than two hours later, Hamilton Sheriff Court was told.

Hamill (24), of Turquoise Terrace, Bellshill, admitted attempted robbery at the Nisa Stores post office in North Road on February 6 this year.

Callum Forsyth, prosecuting, said Hamill entered the shop at 2pm with a bag and told staff member Aisha Majid (26) to “put it in the bag”.

Mr Forsyth said: “She thought she had misheard him. But he told her to give him the money and kept repeating ‘Put it in the bag’. The accused then lifted his jumper and the worker saw what she thought was a knife.

“Other members of staff heard him demand money and one pressed an alarm button. Hamill then left, realising they weren’t going to hand over any money. About 3.45pm the accused presented himself at the police station and said ‘I want to hand myself in for the robbery down the shop. It was me.’ He produced a nail file and said that what was what he had used.”

Hamill, who has no previous convictions, appeared from custody as he is being held in relation to another matter.

His solicitor, Alan Murray, said he has mental health problems which might be “drug-induced”. Sentence was deferred until next month for background reports.