Barber jailed for string of raids across South Lanarkshire and Dunbartonshire

A barber who claimed he was making £1,000-a-week has been jailed for nine years for a string of robberies. Jamie Baird carried out four raids in the space of just five days.

His lawyer told a judge Baird was an “unusual candidate for an armed robber”

The 31 year-old first targeted a William Hill bookmakers in East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire last June 1.

A firearm used was described as “something you would get in a western movie”.

Just 30 minutes later, Baird held up a worker at a Spar shop in the village of Stonehouse, also in South Lanarkshire.

He then teamed up with accomplice Luke Blackwood (24) to steal £350 and cigarettes from the Murco service station in Dumbarton, Dunbartonshire on June 5.

The pair were then back in East Kilbride the next day to pocket more than £500 from a BP garage.

Baird had denied the crimes during a trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

But, jurors heard how a replica revolver, a shotgun barrel and sunglasses used in the raids were found in a boiler cupboard at his flat.

Baird claimed he had no need for cash as his barbers in the city's Drumchapel was making a £1000-a-week profit.

He had also been living in Spain for a “considerable period”.

Prosecutor Alan MacKay said to him: “You must have had a healthy bank balance then?”

Baird: “I don't really use banks.”

Mr MacKay instead suggested the barbers had been having “difficulties” - but Baird insisted the business had been “on the up”.

He was also quizzed about the items found at his home in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire.

Baird: "I've never seen any of the stuff before."

A police officer had recognised Baird - but he claimed to be the victim of an “unlikely set of circumstances”.

The robber had also been clocked at one point leaving in a white Volkswagen Golf.

Baird was later detained in a such a car.

His lawyer Ross Brown said: “He makes a very unusual candidate for an armed robber.

“He has an excellent work history and ran a successful business.”

Mr Brown added Baird continued to protest his innocence.

Blackwood was jailed for five and a half years after he pled guilty to the two raids he was involved in.

The pair will also be supervised for a further three years on their release.

Lord Clark described the robberies as “terrifying” and that the impact on victims will be “severe and enduring”.