Man fined for police rant after he sheltered staff from armed robber

A Burntisland shop worker whose store provided respite for staff affected by a nearby armed robbery harangued police who sealed off his store.

Tariq Arshad had been working at family business Jason’s Newsagent in Burntisland when a 16-year-old boy attacked a pregnant woman during an attempted armed robbery at the Co-op supermarket two doors down.

The young thug was armed with a police-style metal baton when he carried out the 6.20am raid.

He demanded money from staff, then hit them with his baton when they told him there was no cash in the till.

The terrified employees were forced to flee to Jason’s Newsagents – the windows of which were also damaged by the boy – before police arrived.

At Kirkcaldy Sheriff

Court fiscal depute Jill Currie said: “Around 7am police attended in relation to an unrelated matter.

“Due to the nature of the incident, officers required to secure the locus as a crime scene.”

Arshad was told not to move around the shop but began shouting “for f ***** sake” and throwing papers.

He was asked to stop swearing but became “extremely aggressive” towards officers.

“He continued to, as police describe, square up to PC Bett,” Ms Currie continued.

Arshad, of Hopetoun Place in Kirkcaldy, then jumped into his Ford Fiesta and stared at the constable for “some time” before driving off.

In court he admitted acting in a threatening or abusive manner at the Burntisland High Street shop on October 23 2019.

His solicitor said: “On the date libelled, he was working in his father’s shop when an armed robbery occurred.

“He was angry, upset and shaken.”

Sheriff Alison Mckay fined him £470.

The would-be robber, who was 16 at the time, appeared in court in August and was placed on a two-year supervision order and given 225 hours of unpaid work.

Tariq Arshad.