Man who tried to raid Greenock shop armed with a sword is jailed
A thug armed with a sword who tried to rob a Greenock shop has been jailed for four years.
A thug armed with a sword who tried to rob a Greenock shop has been jailed for four years.
Arthur Rennie, 20, of Port Glasgow, was foiled in his robbery raid by brave shop assistant 23-year-old Julie Crighton who refused to hand over cash and chased him out the premises armed only with a plastic fork.
The incident took place at Cowden's News and Fast Food Shop in Lynedoch Street, Greenock, on March 16, last year, around 4pm while Julie was making sandwiches.
Rennie was convicted at the High Court in Glasgow, but continues to protest his innocence.
Judge Lady Rae told Rennie: “I appreciate you don't accept the jury's verdict, but the evidence showed that you went into the shop – along with another – with your face covered and a large sword.
“That young woman was extremely brave to tackle you and you then ran away.”
Defence counsel Tony Lenehan described Rennie's childhood as “desolate and chaotic.”
Rennie went into the shop pushed Julie and repeatedly asked for money while waving the sword about and she pushed him right back.
Rennie then fled with Julie, clutching a plastic fork, in hot pursuit.
Judge Lady Rae said: “This was a large sword and the incident must have been very frightening. She is an extremely brave young woman tackled Mr Rennie despite the fact he had that sword.”
In evidence Julie said:: “He was brandishing what I thought was a machete and made his way to the side of the counter.
“He came towards me and pushed me and I pushed him back. I think he realised.” I wasn't going to give him anything. He went out and I went out the shop after him.
“I wasn't thinking of catching him. Just seeing where he was going.”
In court Julie was shown a sword with a two-foot blade and identified that as the weapon she saw in the shop.
Rennie, was convicted of – while acting with another – attempting to rob Cowden's News and Fast Food Shop, Lynedoch Street, Greenock, on March 16, last year.
He denied the charge and lodged a special defence of alibi.
The court heard that just before 4pm as she was making sandwiches, two men entered the shop with their faces partially covered with scarves.
She said that one of the men stayed at the door, while the other approached the counter.
A bag containing the sword and sheath and a hoodie and t-shirt were discovered the next day.
The clothes had Rennie's DNA on them.