Bookmaker robber in pyjamas failed to spot two policemen
41 year old Duncan Haldane from Glasgow has been jailed for 4 years for the botched hold-up at a William Hill branch
A masked raider wearing black and white checked pyjamas failed to notice two uniformed policemen inside the bookies he tried to rob.
41 year old Duncan Haldane from Glasgow, who was caught within seconds of entering the premises, has been jailed for five years.
The High Court in Glasgow heard that Haldane walked into William Hill bookmakers in Saracen Street, Glasgow, on December 14, last year, but did not spot the police officers in hi-visibility yellow vests who were carrying out a licensed premises check.
Judge Lord Bannatyne was played CCTV footage which showed Haldane walk up to the counter in the betting shop.
He placed plastic bags under the screen and shouted at the employees working there: “Fill them up, fing fill them up right fing now, fill them up or I pull this out”.
The court was told by advocate depute Allan Nicol, prosecuting, that gesturing towards his right hand which was still in the pocket of his hoodie, indicating that he had a weapon.
At that point, the police officers emerged from behind the counter, grabbed Haldane put him on the ground and handcuffed him.
A search revealed Haldane had no weapon. In court, Haldane admitted attempting to rob William Hills on December 14, 2015.
He also pleaded guilty to robbing Q Save Grocers, Saracen Street, Glasgow, of £700 by threatening staff with a knife.
The court heard that he is known to all the staff in the grocery shop.
Haldane has previous convictions for theft, violence, drugs and firearms offences going back to 1991.
Defence counsel Tony Graham said: “Mr Haldane is embarrassed that he carried out this attempted robbery wearing his pyjamas, however it must have been a terrifying for the staff at the bookmakers.”
“These offences occurred because of his involvement with drugs.”
Lord Bannatyne jailed Haldane and told him: “These are matters which are terrifying for people in shops and the court have to protect shop workers.”
Haldane was told that, but for his early guilty plea, he would have been jailed for seven and a half years. ends