Raid justice

The owner of Rutherglen Post Office believes justice will be done after two men pled guilty to carrying out a terrifying robbery on his business.

Martin Barnett last week admitted teaming up with accomplice Lee Boyd to hold up Amir Yasin’s shop on Main Street last November.

A Rutherglen Post Office worker who was on duty when two men carrying a knife robbed the store of more than £13,000 worth of goods, says she is delighted they have admitted to the crime.

Shop assistant Joyce Hanley was working behind the counter with Abrar Yasin when Martin Barnett jumped on top of it brandishing what she described as a large kitchen knife.

Quick reacting Joyce pressed the alarm as soon as the robber and his accomplice Lee Boyd started screaming for cash at the store in November 2016.

The pair, who stole items including sealed packages due to be sent for recorded delivery worth £13,750, changed their plea to guilty at the High Court in Glasgow and were remanded in custody pending sentencing next month.

Joyce, who stays in Rutherglen, admitted she was shocked at the time but was happy with the outcome.“We are delighted they have pled guilty,”she said.

“I was absolutely shocked. I have worked here for nearly eight years and I have never experienced anything like that. I actually came into work the next day because if I didn’t, I knew I wouldn’t come back in, that would let them win.”

Recalling the day of the incident, Joyce added:“There were two of them, one behind the other. They actually queued before it all happened.

“He [Barnett] approached us and asked for the money and then he came up and over the counter.

“I pressed the alarm which puts everything on lock down and I grabbed Abrar. They came right over the counter with a knife but by that time we were already through the door.”