Botched robbery
Lout caught on CCTV
A hapless crook ditched a haul of booze after fleeing from a botched raid on a shop, a court heard.
“Ham- fisted” Robert Crichton, 39, also dumped a cash register beneath a hole in the roof he used to access the grocer’s shop at Ferguslie Park Avenue in the town.
Paisley Sheriff Court heard Crichton inexplicably threw away a bag containing £40 worth of drink at the back of the shop, as well as leaving his own blood at the scene of the crime.
The thief also prowled about inside the shop unaware his movements were being captured on CCTV.
Fiscal Keri Marshall told how shopkeeper Hassan Lal was notified of the break in the early hours of April 19 by an alarm activation and he contacted a colleague who lived nearby.
The prosecutor said: “The witness attended the locus and saw the alarm going off. He also saw the accused making off from the premises, making off from the rear of the shop into a wooded area.
“Police officers attended and a few minutes later located a quantity of alcohol, about £40 worth. Also a black bin bag which appeared to have blood on it was recovered.
“Staff granted police access to the shop. The accused had gained access through the roof area. Efforts had been made to steal the till.
“It was recovered. There was blood on it. The till had been moved from its position in the other room and left directly below the opening in the roof.”
The court was told the alcohol was returned and CCTV footage was scrutinised by scenes of crime officers who quickly identified Crichton as the culprit.
The fiscal heard the yob stole around £300 worth of tobacco and caused £400 worth of damage to the roof.
Yesterday Crichton of Grampian Avenue in the town’s Gallowhill area appeared from custody where he pleaded guilty to breaking into the premises and stealing a quantity of alcohol and tobacco.
Defence agent Jonathan Manson said: “This was a really ham-fisted attempt. He attempted to get through the roof.
“He moved the till but couldn’t get it out.
“He took the drink and then threw it away, for reasons unknown to me.
“He has a significant record, mainly domestic matters, and long standing issues with drink and drugs.
“He fully accepts responsibility for the offence and understands he will be sent to custody but I would ask the court to consider an alternative to custody.”
Sheriff Seith Ireland deferred sentence on Crichton to call for background reports ahead of sentencing.
He also called for a risk assessment on the yob to “protect the public from serious risk of harm.”
He was remanded in custody and will learn his fate when he is brought back to court on December 10.
The Express revealed earlier this year how tearful Mr Lal told how the raid at the family shop affected him.
He said: “I’m quite emotional really.The shop has been in the family for 40 years. We have had a few problems in the past but not for a while.
“It is the damage they have caused, it will take a lot of work to get it sorted. I feel a bit like just saying, ‘enough is enough’ and packing it up.”