Knife-wielding robber jailed following two garage raids

Author: Ally McGilvrayPublished 28th Jul 2025
Last updated 28th Jul 2025

A knife-wielding robber who demanded cash from workers at two petrol stations in the Scottish Borders, in separate incidents less than a fortnight apart, has today (Monday) been jailed for a total of 493 days.

Wayne Todd also stole a car and mobile phone from Gattonside Toll, and attempted to rob a Chinese takeaway in Langlee between December last year and January this year.

Jedburgh Sheriff Court heard the 34-year-old's life had taken a "nose-dive" and he was using drugs to a "significant extent".

And, while the phone was later recovered, his solicitor, Mark Harrower, said: "He has no recollection of what happened to the car."

But he added, his client apologised for the distress he caused.

The case called at Jedburgh Sheriff Court.

India McLean, prosecuting, revealed Todd had entered the first garage - Morrisons in Earlston - on December the 29th.

He had his head down and his hands in his pocket, before pulling out a seven-inch knife, with a serrated blade.

The court was told Todd presented the knife towards a member of staff and demanded he open the till and give him £100.

Later that night, he also stole a car and mobile phone from an address in the Gattonside area - around five miles away; with the owner only finding out when he awoke the next morning to find his back door open.

Around 1am, Todd turned up at the home of a 78-year-old woman at Kenilworth Avenue in Galashiels and asked to use her phone.

When the pensioner asked who it was, he replied: "Someone that needed help."

Ms McLean said he loitered at the property for some time before leaving, with doorbell footage later appearing to show him still in possession of a knife.

Around 6pm, on January 11th, Todd - after being released on bail for the earlier offence - also attempted to rob Fei Wong in Marigold Bank, Galashiels.

He demanded cash from a woman working there while in possession of the weapon, but left before any money was handed over.

Later that night, around 11pm, the armed robber launched a second garage raid - at nearby Dalgleish’s garage, also in Langlee.

But the court heard the worker, who was behind a security shield, refused to hand over any cash, and he later left.

READ MORE: Animal which 'normally doesn't win' crowned Champion of Champions at Border Union Show

Todd previously pled guilty to a total of seven charges - assault and robbery; robbery; attempted robbery; theft; theft of a vehicle; threatening or abusive behaviour and possession of a knife in a public place.

His sentence was backdated to January the 13th, when he was remanded.

He will also be subject of a supervision order for six months on his release.

For more stories from the Scottish Borders and North Northumberland, bookmark our new home page - https://hellorayo.co.uk/greatest-hits/borders/news/

Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.