Robber threatened OAP with a gun in a Tesco store
Stephen Lawrie jabbed the air rifle into the stomach of the terrified 76 year old man in the Express supermarket in Airdrie
A robber brandished a gun at a 76 year-old shopper during a terrifying supermarket raid.
Stephen Lawrie jabbed the weapon into the stomach of Hugh Goldie causing the OAP to fall.
A judge heard how Mr Goldie had been suffering from bowel cancer with fears the disease had spread.
Lawrie and an accomplice eventually fled with more than ÂŁ900 of cash from the Tesco Express store in Airdrie, North Lanarkshire.
But, the 40 year-old was soon snared after his DNA was found on the weapon, which turned to be an air pistol.
Lawrie is now behind bars after he pled guilty to assault and robbery as well as possessing an imitation firearm.
The dad-of-four, of Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, will learn his fate when he is sentenced next month.
The High Court in Glasgow heard Lawrie and another man were masked when they carried out the raid on September 14 last year.
The accomplice was spotted holding a knife.
Lawrie demanded Mr Goldie get on the ground before pushing what appeared to be a handgun into his stomach.
Staff were then told to fill a bag with cash. Prosecutor Stewart Ronnie said Lawrie was becoming "increasingly agitated".
Lawrie yelled no one was to call for help before hitting worker John Turnbull on the head with the firearm.
The duo escaped - but Lawrie was caught after his DNA was found on a broken part of the weapon that was found.
Lawrie will be sentenced on December 3 at the High Court in Livingston.