The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Man faces string of charges over alleged chip shop raid
Coupar Angus shop staff ‘threatened with firearm and knife’
A man appeared in court yesterday accused of a series of charges relating to an alleged chip shop robbery in east Perthshire.
Nicholas McGurk, from the Govanhill area of Glasgow, appeared in private at Perth Sheriff Court accused of robbing the shop on Friday evening.
It is alleged he brandished a firearm and knife at staff, bound the hands of one employee and stole a car to make his getaway.
The 31-year-old made no plea to the charges following the alleged incident at Brodie’s Traditional Fish and Chip Shop in George Square, Coupar Angus.
He appeared from custody before Sheriff Lindsay Foulis charged him with assaulting chip shop staff by brandishing a firearm at them, demanding money from staff, and threatening to kill them.
It is alleged he bound the hands of one employee to bathroom fittings, pointed the firearm at staff and demanded car keys, before robbing them of a quantity of cash, two mobile phones, car keys, a bag of groceries and a car.
McGurk also faced a charge that on the same date and address he abducted a female member of staff, brandished a knife at her, seized her by the neck and repeatedly attempted to kiss her and slapped her on the face.
In addition, he faces a charge that on the same date he drove a car at speed on a pavement in a built-up pedestrianised area in George Square, Gray Street, Commercial Street and Union Street, all in Coupar Angus, and drove without a proper driving licence and insurance.
McGurk made no plea or declaration and was remanded in custody.
Police Scotland previously said the alleged theft was understood to involve a three-figure sum of money. preoch@thecourier.co.uk