Fife shop worker unmasked robber during armed raid

Drug addict jailed after staff at Anstruther store recognised him

A plucky Fife woman laughed at an armed robber before pulling down his face mask and chasing him out of her shop.

Rhona Renauld thought George Blackwood was joking when he showed up at the A&A convenience store in Anstruther with black tights over his face and demanded money.

She pulled down the tights and told the 36-year-old: “I knew fine well it was you.”

The woman ended up giving the drug addict £100 after he showed her a serrated knife, then swore at him and ushered him out of the shop.

Sheriff Alastair Carmichael praised the shop employee’s bravery and jailed Blackwood, a drug addict, for more than two years.

A Fife shop employee who stood up to an armed robber was praised for her bravery as her attacker was jailed.

Rhona Renauld was stacking shelves at the A&A convenience store in Anstruther when George Blackwood walked in with his face masked, presented a knife at her and demanded money from the till.

The woman laughed, pulled down the black tights covering the 36-year-old’s face and told him: “I knew fine well it was you, you p***, you’re not getting the money.”

After Blackwood continued to demand cash, Ms Renauld thrust a plastic pouch of £10 notes at him, swore and ushered him out of the door.

Police later found him hiding behind a door in his friend’s kitchen.

Blackwood’s solicitor admitted her client was not a “criminal mastermind”.

He was jailed for more than two years at Dundee Sheriff Court after pleading guilty to robbing the employee of £100, possessing a knife and breaking a curfew requiring him to stay home between 7am and 7pm, on June 7, while on bail.

Depute fiscal Saima Rasheed said: “Ms Renauld was stacking shelves on the shop floor when she heard the electric sensor at the door.

“She turned around and saw the accused wearing a black cap and tights over his face. She thought he was playing a joke and laughed.

“He said ‘get to the till’ and ‘open the till now’. He showed her a serrated knife. She went to the counter followed by the accused. She opened the drawer and took out notes.

“He demanded the money again, saying ‘hurry up’.”

The court heard that Blackwood had a “considerable” substance misuse problem and had taken Valium and alcohol in the lead-up to the offence.

He was now said to be off drugs and was “apologetic” towards his victim.

Sheriff Alastair Carmichael jailed Blackwood for 25 months, telling him: “I’ve taken into account the mitigating circumstances but this was a deliberate assault and robbery.

“You had your face masked. This would have caused the complainant considerable concern.

“Although she acted with bravery, police said she was distressed.”

I knew fine well it was you, you p***, you’re not getting the money