Store hit by robber

A customer who robbed his local shop in Blantyre wasn’t content with a bag stuffed with banknotes.

Stephen Richardson also demanded cigarettes and a bottle of rum before fleeing from the premises.

Richardson, 42, a prisoner, was jailed for 58 weeks at Hamilton Sheriff Court on Friday.

He admitted assault and robbery at Scotmid in Stonefield Road on February 8. The raid happened at 8.30pm.

Richardson claimed he acted out of desperation because he owed people money.

Jennifer Mclaren, prosecuting, said he told a female assistant at the till ‘stay calm. This is a robbery’.

No weapon was produced, but Richardson had his hand in his pocket and became angry when the assistant said she had no access to the till.

Ms Mclaren told the court: “Richardson informed the witness he didn’t want to hurt her and produced a carrier bag for her to put money in.

“She was joined by a female colleague and he continued to demand money.

“Eventually the assistant opened the till and handed him a quantity of £10 and £5 notes.

“Richardson then demanded 40 cigarettes and a bottle of Captain Morgan rum.

“He put these items in the carrier bag, apologised to the witnesses, said again he didn’t want to hurt them and left the store.”

Police traced Richardson as the assistants knew him as a customer and there was also CCTV evidence.

He was arrested a week after the robbery.

Defence agent Kenny Greener said that over the last 24 years his client has been jailed on a regular basis and is now “institutionalised”.

The solicitor added: “This was an ill thought out crime at his local store.

“He had accrued a debt and been threatened with violence. That was his motivation for the robbery.

“It was borne out of desperation and he was apologetic towards the staff.”

Mr Greener said Richardson was the victim of a serious assault at his Blantyre home a week after the robbery.

He was taken to hospital and the police arrested him.

Sheriff David Young said there was no alternative to prison but reduced the sentence from 18 months to 58 weeks because of Richardson’s early guilty plea.

It was backdated to February to take account of time already spent in custody.

The sheriff told Richardson: “You say you were driven by fear of people, but you decided to rob a shop and cause fear and distress to workers there.

“I accept no weapon was produced, but you stated that you didn’t want to hurt them and that could have been regarded as intimidation at the time.”