A man has been jailed for more than two years for his part in raids on north-east cashpoints.
A Liverpool based gang targeted 11 bank branches in the area in 2014, trying to force their way into ATMs using crowbars and explosives.
Peter O’Brien last month admitted assisting them with attempts to seize money from the Bank of Scotland on Constitution Street in Inverurie and the Clydesdale Bank on Ann Street in Stonehaven.
Although he was not present at either incident on October 28 that year, he provided the culprits with vital assistance which included allowing them to use a property on Mansefield Road in Torry and providing them with a vehicle.
He was also accused of being involved in other raids which took place that year at Dyce, Ellon, Oldmeldrum, Mintlaw and North-Deeside Road but his pleas of not guilty to those charges were accepted by the crown at Aberdeen High Court last month.
O’Brien had been due to stand trial alongside a trio of others at Glasgow High Court in April last year but failed to appear.
Following that trial, three other men were sentenced to a total of 27 years imprisonment.
After O’Brien pleaded guilty last month the court heard he had been threatened into taking part.
Advocate depute Keith Mahony said: “That is not disputed by the crown.
“However the plea is tendered and accepted on the basis that the accused had opportunity to contact the police in advance of the crimes being carried out and failed to do so.”
The court also heard that he had 18 previous convictions from 2004 onwards in both England and Scotland for possession of drugs, dishonesty and violence.
O’Brien, whose address was given as St Luke’s Close in Merthyr Tydfil, appeared in Aberdeen High Court again yesterday where Lord Matthews sentenced him to two years and three months behind bars.
