Businessman admits robbing East Renfrewshire shops with child's toy gun

A businessman is behind bars after using a child's toy gun in a string of raids.

Ross Travers turned to crime after his insurance company went bust.

Travers first tried to hold up a petrol station worker – but left empty handed when she thought it was a “prank”.

The ex-company director then attempted to steal a guitar from a man before later snatching cash from a supermarket.

The 37 year-old was later snared for the crimes which occurred in upmarket Clarkston and Busby in East Renfrewshire.

A judge heard how police swooped on his home and discovered his DNA on a fake gun in a bedroom.

He now faces a lengthy jail-term after he pled guilty to robbery, two attempted robberies and behaving in a threatening manner.

Travers, also of Busby, was today/yesterday remanded in custody pending sentencing in March.

The High Court in Glasgow heard Travers had been a director of a “relatively successful” insurance firm before it folded.

It later led to him turning up at service station in Clarkston two days before Christmas 2016 looking for cash.

He handed over a scrunched up bag to a female worker and demanded she fill it with bank notes.

But, the woman immediately replied no. She also reckoned a silver handgun he had was “fake”.

The court heard she thought the apparent weapon had a “tinny noise” and believed the incident was “a prank”.

Travers left when another car drove onto the forecourt.

Last March 9, he then stopped a student in nearby Busby and told him: “Give me your guitar or I will put this through your head.”

Travers again appeared to be holding a gun, but the victim thought it was “plastic”.

The incident quickly ended with Travers getting nothing – and shaking the young man's hand before he left.

He then headed the same day to the Co-Op store in Clarkston, walked up to the till and threw down a plastic bag.

Travers said: “You are going to open the till and put the money in there or else.”

He was clocked on CCTV swinging and pointing what looked like a silver firearm.

Travers was given around £100 – but told a worker: “Is that it?”

He escaped from the store, but he was later linked to the crimes.

The court heard a silver toy gun was later found in a box at his home. He made no comment when quizzed.

His advocate today/yesterday said Travers had “clearly suffered traumatic experiences” prior to the offences.

Louise Arrol, defending, said: “Mr Travers is someone who was the director of a relatively successful company.

“His company and long term relationship started to fail.

“The business had to close. This was before the first offence. He accepts he will receive a significant custodial sentence, but he has demonstrated remorse.”

Lord Mulholland refused to continue bail and deferred sentencing for reports