Knifepoint robber caught by grey streak

A SERIAL robber who held up a teenage shop worker at knifepoint was jailed for six years.

John Coyle, 44, was caught because of a distinctive grey streak in his hair.

He was ordered to be monitored in the community for eight years after his release because of his high risk of re-offending.

Coyle held up an 18-yearold shop assistant at a Scotmid store in Glasgow’s Easterhouse in October, last year.

He walked into the store and asked for a packet of cigarettes.

The assistant gave them to him and asked if he wanted anything else.

He then pulled out a large black-handled knife and thrust it towards her stomach and shouted: “Open the till.”

But, he fled empty handed when the terrified 18year-old woman screamed and shouted for her mum, who was also an employee there.

The incident was captured on the shop’s CCTV.

The High Court in Glasgow heard Coyle had a “very distinctive” grey streak on his hair which could be seen on the footage.

Police later held Coyle, of the city’s Cranhill, for the raid after he was recognised by officers.

It emerged he had already served a number of lengthy jail-terms for similar crimes and had been released early on licence 11 months earlier.

Yesterday at the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Burns ruled that Coyle will have to serve the unexpired four-year portion of his previous sentence before starting his new sentence.