Man robbed legal high shop twice

A MAN who carried out an armed robbery of a legal high shop in Angus returned the following day to steal more, a court heard yesterday.

Fraser Gunn, 27, admitted carrying out the robberies at Declaration in Arbroath on January 26 and 27 this year.

In the earlier robbery, he presented a knife at the owner of the Brothock Bridge shop and demanded he fill a carrier bag with drugs.

Depute fiscal James Eodonable said Gunn, described as a prisoner at Perth, was not interested in stealing money, only sachets of the legal high.

He said: “The shop sells items described as legal highs, which come in small sachets. At 11am, the proprietor was working when the accused came into the shop, placed a carrier bag on the counter and said ‘fill it up’.

“At the time Gunn was holding a kitchen knife with a four to five-inch blade and a black handle.

“The complainer said he didn’t have the means to fill up the bag.

“The accused replied that he didn’t want money, he just wanted the product.

“The owner took hold of a skateboard to fend off the accused. At that point Gunn showed the knife to the complainer and said: ‘You don’t want to do that’.

“The complainer gave Gunn nine bags of legal highs — six bags of Clockwork Orange and three bags of Limitless.

“He left the shop and the complainer contacted the police.”

Remarkably, while being subject of a police manhunt, Gunn returned again to the shop the next day to steal again.

“At 3.30pm the next day the accused again came into the shop and the complainer immediately recognised him as the same person,” Mr Eodonable said.

“The accused said: ‘I want more stuff’. The complainer was scared but said he couldn’t give him any more.

“Gunn asked that he be given five bags. The complainer asked if he gave him five bags would he leave and that was agreed.

“The complainer thinks he handed five bags over but was too nervous to be certain. Gunn again left.

“The legal highs are sold in one gramme quantities for £10 per packet. There was no recovery of any of the packets.”

Mr Eodonable gave Sheriff Gregor Murray a brief background about legal highs, which have led to campaign groups being set up in Arbroath and Montrose.

“The legal highs in question are herbal substances used for incense burners but they are also known to be mixed with tobacco and smoked,” he said.

“They work much like a muscle relaxer but can lead to anxiety, profound sweating and insomnia. “They can also cause irritation to the eyes, skin and respiratory system and can cause hallucinations on occasions,” he continued.

Sheriff Murray deferred sentence until May 6 for a criminal justice social work report.

Defence agent Billy Rennie said: “My client is aware that there will be serious consideration of a prison sentence given the use of a knife.”

Gunn was remanded in custody until the case’s next hearing.