A young man who staged an armed robbery at a north garage shop has been sentenced to 21 months detention.
Keiran Bowes, 20, was said to have been high on drugs when he presented a knife and ordered the shop assistant at Dunnett’s garage, in Wick, Christine Davidson, to empty the till.
Bowes fled with over £100 but was tracked down by police assisted by CCTV footage of the crime Wick Sheriff Court was told, yesterday.
He pleaded guilty to the robbery on indictment and also admitted breaching bail by failing to appear in court, as well as a record including offences for violence and dishonesty.
Bowes, whose address was given as Polmont Young Offenders Prison, entered the shop around 9.15pm on August 26. He selected a soft drink before making his way to the counter to pay for it.
Bowes was advised by Miss Davidson that he was due a penny change.
At that point, said fiscal Fraser Matheson, Bowes swore and ordered 61-year-old Miss Davidson to also give him “the rest of the money.”
Bowes was holding a knife, although he made no attempt to strike her with it.
Miss Davidson complied with Bowes’ demand and handed over the cash totalling £123-54.
Miss Davidson contacted the police and the garage manager. A description of the robber was circulated and Bowes was arrested the following day.
Solicitor Claire Russell said that Bowes’ recollection of the robbery was “non-existent”, due to “the illicit substances” had consumed.
Miss Russell added: “The accused is horified at his behaviour and recognises he deserves punishment for that.”
Sentencing Bowes, Sheriff Andrew Berry said that an armed robbery in commercial premises was particularly serious in Caithness where “an act of such gravity is extremely rare.”
He continued: “It would have been an awful experience for Miss Davidson and her mamager. I take the view that only a custodial sentence is appropriate.”
The detention sentences of 15 months for the robbery and six months for breaching bail will run consecutively and are backdated to September 6, when Bowes was remanded.
The knife was ordered to be forfeit.
