Robbery to get him jail

A man who robbed a partygoer at the point of a screwdriver and tried to rob two others was yesterday (Tuesday) arned by a sheriff he faced certain jail.

Arfan Ansari, 36, pulled the weapon from his jacket pocket and pointed it straight at Alisdair Ferguson’s chest after confronting him at a bus stop on Union Street, Stirling.

The city’s sheriff court was told that Mr Ferguson, 23, had gone to the stop at about 11.10 pm to catch a bus home to Alloa after attending the party in Bruce Street.

Ansari, who lived in Bruce Street, was high on drink and drugs, the court was told. He told Mr Ferguson:“Give me your wallet.”

Prosecutor Alex Piper said Mr Ferguson, who was starting to become panicked, handed over his notecase containing £20 cash, his bank card, and driving licence.

Ansari staggered off, shouting at Mr Ferguson not to call the police, or he would stab him. He then approached two other men, who were just arriving at the party.

He grabbed one of them, Grant Carmichael, 23, round the throat with one hand, and threatened him with the screwdriver with the other, demanding that he and the other man with him, Jamie Gillespie, also 23, should also hand over their wallets.

Miss Piper said:“Mr Carmichael pushed him away and ran to the centre of the road. The accused started to walk off.”

Mr Carmichael and Mr Gillespie began to follow him, while a woman at the party called police.

Miss Piper said: “Because of the nature of the incident, numerous police officers attended the area.”

Ansari was arrested on a nearby street about 3 am. Ansari pleaded guilty to assault, robbery, and attempted robbery.

The incident occurred on October 15 last year .

Alasdair Ross, defending, said:“He was regrettably under the influence of both alcohol and drugs and he doesn’t remember anything.”

Sheriff William Gilchrist deferred sentence until August 2 for social background reports and he was remanded.