Two hammer-wielding masked robbers snatched a till from a Peterhead mini-mart as the terrified shop worker hid in the back.
Steven McGee, 33, and James Vidgen, 36, burst into the Premier Express convenience store on Longate and shouted “where’s the money?”.
McGee was waving a hammer above his head and screaming threats, causing the worker to barricade himself in the stock room.
Aberdeen Sheriff Court heard the pair managed to escape with the till, which they concealed nearby and later hailed a taxi to recover.
Thieves ripped till from counter
Fiscal depute Lynne MacVicar told the court that on December 19 last year the pair boasted to a friend they were going to rob the shop before donning dark clothing, hoods and masks.
She said that in the early evening the shop worker was in the stock room when he heard a noise in the shop.
“As he reached the door of the stock room he was met by the accused McGee coming towards him wielding a hammer above his head demanding ‘where’s the money? I need the money or I’ll hit you’.
“The complainer remained within the stock room and closed the door.
“He then heard the voice of the accused Vidgen and heard pulling and ripping and thought it was the till being removed. He called 999.”
Carried till along the street
Around the same time, a female shopper entered the store and saw McGee “flailing his arms” and banging the hammer against the cash register shouting “till! till!”.
She also saw Vidgen lingering close by.
The woman ran from the shop and called the police.
The pair were later seen exiting the store and carrying the till along the street.
The fiscal depute said at some point McGee and Vidgen hid the till because later that night they ordered a taxi to take them to the spot.
They returned to McGee’s home with the till then shared out the £200 that was inside.
Police later used CCTV to trace both McGee and Vidgen and found a black hammer similar to the one used in the robbery.
They also found the clothes the pair had discarded in a nearby bin.
McGee and Vidgen pleaded guilty to one charge of robbery and assault by brandishing the hammer at the shop worker.
Sheriff – ‘this is a very serious offence’
McGee’s defence agent Iain Hingston called for social work reports to be carried out and stated that his client realised that his previous conviction last year for assault and robbery would be of concern to the court.
Vidgen’s solicitor Sam Milligan also called for reports to be carried out.
Sheriff Andrew Miller deferred the sentence on McGee and Vidgen, both of whom are currently residing at HMP Grampian, in order for a criminal justice social work report and risk assessment to be carried out.
He described the matter as a “very serious offence”.
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