Failed robber brandished knife at shop worker and demanded cash

A would-be robber told a worker at an Aberdeen corner shop he had a gun in his bag as he brandished a knife and demanded £1,000 in cash.

Brian Forbes was a regular customer at L&M Stores on Hutcheon Street so employee, Chaudhry Khan, first thought nothing untoward about his visit at 5.50am on Friday August 17.

However, Mr Khan was left stunned when the 42-year-old placed a hand- written note on the counter demanding cash.

Forbes appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday, where his attempt to rob the grocery shop was described.

Fiscal Jamie Dunbar, said: “The accused took an envelope out of his bag, which contained a long note.

“Mr Khan only read the last part of it, which said ‘I need £1,000’. The accused kept saying ‘money, money’ and took a yellow duster out of his bag, and stated there was a knife in the cloth.

“When the worker refused to give him any money, Forbes put his hand back in the bag and said he had a gun in there too.”

The court heard the accused then showed Mr Khan the lock-knife he had, but fled when a panic alarm was set off.

The police traced him at his home about two hours later, and arrested him.

Forbes admitted charges of attempted robbery and of possessing a knife in a public place “without reasonable excuse”.

Sheriff William Summers agreed to defer sentence on Forbes, who appeared on remand from HMP Grampian, until next month.

Sheriff Summers said there was “more than a strong possibility” of him being sent to jail.

“Put his hand back in the bag and said he had a gun in there too”