Gunman who carried out armed raid on Perthshire chip shop jailed for 9 years
Last updated 24th Feb 2017
A gunman who tied up a former police officer and abducted a woman in an armed raid at a Perthshire chip shop has been jailed for nine years.
Nicholas McGurk, 32, carried out the armed raid at Brodies Traditional Fish & Chips in Coupar Angus just a week after being freed from jail for another offence.
The High Court in Edinburgh heard on Wednesday how the thug targeted shop worker Alex Wong during the August 2016 robbery.
He was tied up while a woman was forced to go with McGurk in his Mercedes. He intimidated his two victims by being armed with an imitation gun and a knife.
His female victim only escaped when he crashed the car.
McGurk - from Glasgow - was captured by police and pleaded guilty to assault, abduction and robbery at the high court in his home city last month.
On Wednesday, the judge told McGurk that he had no other option but to send him to prison.
Ordering him to be supervised for a period of seven years following his release from custody, the judge told him that his 'long' criminal record meant jail was inevitable.
The High Court in Glasgow heard the thug had only been back on the streets eight days having earlier been jailed for theft.
He also had previous convictions for drugs, violence and possession of knives.
McGurk also had once served a 77 month term after being convicted in 2009 at the high court on an assault and robbery charge .
Defence advocate Ronnie Renucci told the court that his client was sorry for what he had done and had pleaded guilty to the offences.
Passing sentence, Lord Boyd told McGurk that he had thought about giving him a life sentence.
He added: "Given the nature of these offences and your record, I have considered whether or not I should make a risk assessment order and consider an order for lifelong restriction.
"However, having regard to the terms of the criminal justice social work report, I have decided that the criteria are not met in this case."