Shotgun raider jailed for robberies in Bearsden and Hardgate
The 30-year old man was jailed for three years and eight months
A shotgun raider who robbed two shops within the space of two hours, was jailed for three years and eight months.
Noel Wheatley, 30, carried out the robberies in Bearsden and Hardgate on February 11, this year, to pay off a drug debt.
At Scotmid in Ledi Drive, Bearsden he presented the shotgun at two employees and robbed them of £780.
Wheatley then targeted Ladbrokes in Glasgow Road, Hardgate where he threatened an employee with the weapon and made off with £301.45.
The High Court in Glasgow heard that Wheatley was handed the shotgun by men he owed drug money to and was told it did not work.
Jailing Wheatley judge Lord Boyd said: “I accept that you were given the gun by another and the gun was not viable, but it was your choice to carry out these offences.”
Lord Boyd told Wheatley the sentence should act as a deterrent to prevent robbers thinking that shop workers were 'an easy target.”
Defence counsel Tony Lenehan said: “There is a hopeless amateurism about the robberies.”
Mr Lenehan told the court that after Wheatley's marriage collapsed he turned to drink and drugs and found himself in debt.
He added: “Mr Wheatley was told he had to carry out these robberies to pay off the money he owed.”
The court heard that six days before Wheatley carried out the raids he was released on bail by police in Berkshire after allegedly robbing a taxi driver.
Wheatley, who did not bother to cover his face during the robberies, was snared after police checked CCTV footage from the shops.
In court he pled guilty to two assault and robbery charges.
He first struck at the Scotmid store in Bearsden, East Dunbartonshire two hours later, he then confronted a female worker at a Ladbrokes in Hardgate, West Dunbartonshire with the gun.
Prosecutor Angela Gray said: “She ran into the back shop and into the staff toilet where she locked the door.
“She kept pressing the panic button and described feeling terrified.”
Wheatley showed no emotion as he was led aaway to begin his sentence.
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