Stirling crossbow robber jailed
Toby McGeoch, 20, was high on drugs when he brandished the terrifying weapon at staff in McColl's newsagents in Stirling's Raploch area.
A masked raider who pointed a crossbow at the chest of a store worker and demanded "all the money in the shop" was jailed for 27 months
Toby McGeoch, 20, was high on drugs when he brandished the terrifying weapon at staff in McColl's newsagents in Stirling's Raploch area.
Falkirk Sheriff Court was told that shop assistant George Quayle, 38, was working behind the till and manageress Kelly Syme was in the back office when the January 15th (2019) incident began,T at about 10.20 am.
Michael Maguire, prosecuting, said: "Mr Quayle saw a male enter the shop with his face covered by a scarf, and a crossbow in his hand, saying 'gie me all the money in the shop'.
"Mr Quayle stepped back from the male and told him to fuck off."
McGeoch then leaned over the till area, still pointing the crossbow at Mr Quayle.
At this point, Miss Syme came out of the office and saw what was happening.
Mr Maguire said: "She initially thought it was a joke, but she then heard the male saying 'gie us all the money in the shop', and Mr Quayle told her to get back in the office."
She did so, and activated a panic alarm, calling police, while McGeoch fled.
After tracking him on CCTV, police raided his home.
They found the crossbow and two bolts in his bedroom and arrested him.
The court heard that not long before the incident, McGeoch had called to see a friend and told him he was going to rob a shop.
The friend told him to "go home and chill" instead, and closed the door -- but noticed that throughout the conversation McGeoch "did not blink".
McGeoch, of Cowane Street, Stirling, pleaded guilty to armed attempted robbery.
Sheriff John Mundy rejected a suggestion from Frazer McCready, that McGeoch could be dealt with by a community-based disposal.
He said: "It's far too serious for that."
Imposing the 27-month jail term, backdated to the date of McGeoch's arrest, since when he has been on remand, the sheriff said only a custodial sentence was appropriate because of the gravity of the incident and the need to protect the public.
McGeoch showed no emotion as he was led to the cells.
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