Lager lout jailed for robbery

A Cardenden man’s botched attempt to rob a local shop with an accomplice has resulted in a jail sentence.

Darren Watson, 32, of Dundonald Park, appeared for sentencing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

Watson previously admitted that on April 11 at AY foodstore, Main Street, Cardenden, he assaulted Hafiz Abrar Ahmad by going behind the counter, pushing him on the body, attempting to seize a mobile phone from his hand and attempting to rob him.

Depute fiscal Kyrsten Buist told the court the shop worker saw Watson and his accomplice enter the store at around 7.15pm.

“They were wearing hooded tops with the hoods up. Darren Watson was drinking a can of lager,” she added.

Watson went behind the counter and pushed the assistant, demanding he open the till.

“The accused then tried to grab a mobile phone from him. Mr Ahmad refused and the accused left,” she added. The incident was caught on CCTV.

Defence solicitor Roshni Joshi said: “He wholly accepts the seriousness of this matter.”

Sheriff Craig McSherry jailed Watson for 12 months.

In June, the other man involved, Gordon Currie, 21, was jailed for 16 months for assaulting Mr Ahmad by brandishing a bottle at him, demanding he open the cash register, striking it with a bottle and attempting to rob him.