Armed robber jailed for knife wielding raid

Man sentenced to 26 months after attempting to steal money from shop

A knife-wielding robber was handed a jail sentence for targeting a shop near his home.

Alex Forbes, 38, wore a balaclava and hood as he raided Jaesy’s Off-Licence on Cromwell Road in Burntisland.

He made off on a bike after demanding money from terrified owner Jatinder Singh.

However, he was identified using CCTV and was sentenced to 26 months in prison when he admitted the offence at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court.

The court heard Forbes, who lived in Cotburn Crescent, stole the money to settle a drug debt.

With his face covered he entered the shop at around 8.30pm on February 8, held up the knife and shouted: “Give me f***ing money and cigarettes.”

Mr Singh told how he used a half bottle of Captain Morgan’s Spiced Rum to activate an alarm.

Panicking, Forbes fled the scene on his bike with his haul in a bag.

Police identified him from CCTV footage and found a bike at his block of flats.

After Forbes was arrested, they also found his balaclava and the rucksack which he used.

His solicitor Martin McGuire said Forbes had been a well-paid working man, employed in manufacturing and engineering.

However, he said: “During the course of his late 20s and early 30s he developed issues with substance misuse, in particular diamorphine (heroin) and cocaine.

“He has had prolonged periods of stability but his drug dependency escalated during the course of 2018, 2019.”

“Having found himself out of control in relation to this drug use it comes as no surprise that Mr Forbes also found himself in substantial debt.”

Sheriff Jamie Gilchrist QC told Forbes the offence was a “very serious matter” which could only be dealt with by way of a custodial sentence.

Forbes was already serving a 31-month sentence in HMP Glenochil for an assault when he was brought to the court from custody and the time was added to it.

Jatinder Singh was held at knife point at an off-licence in Burntisland.