Thug used axe in robbing spree

An axe-wielding thug carried out two robberies within hours of each other, a court was told.

At the High Court in Glasgow Alexander Talent, 35, admitted striking Paul Cowan on the head with the blunt end of an axe and robbing him of a wallet containing £10 and two bank cards.

The force of the blow caused Mr Cowan’s nose to break.

The court was told that minutes earlier Talent had greeted Mr Cowan, who was on his way to work, by saying:“all right mate,” before demanding money and launching the assault.

Injured Mr Cowan walked on and then heard footsteps running after him.

Talent then threatened him with the sharp side of the axe and demanded that he tell him the PIN number for his bank card.

The assault and robbery took place at around 6am at Whitehill Road, Burnbank, on October 17, 2018. The attack took place after Mr Cowan had used an ATM to withdraw £10.

Later at 8.30am Talent walked into the Shop Smart store in Fleming Road, Cumbernauld, and threatened employee 64-year-old Christine King with an axe.

He demanded that she open the till.

The terrified shop worker opened the till and removed some money.

Talent, whose address was given as c/o Barlinnie, then smashed his axe into the till drawer forcing it open and took out cash estimated at around £200.

Defence counsel Louise Arrol told the court:“he has three previous convictions for dishonesty, but none for violence.”

Judge Sean Murphy QC deferred sentence on Talent until later this month for background reports.