A Burntisland shop worker whose store provided respite for staff affected by a nearby armed robbery harangued police who sealed off his store.
Tariq Arshad had been working at family business Jason’s Newsagent in Burntisland when a 16-year-old boy attacked a pregnant woman during an attempted armed robbery at the Co-op supermarket two doors down.
The young thug was armed with a police-style metal baton when he carried out the 6.20am raid.
He demanded money from staff, then hit them with his baton when they told him there was no cash in the till.
The terrified employees were forced to flee to Jason’s Newsagents – the windows of which were also damaged by the boy – before police arrived.
Angry reaction as shop made crime scene
At Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court, fiscal depute Jill Currie said: “Around 7am, police attended in relation to an unrelated matter.
“Due to the nature of the incident, officers required to secure the locus as a crime scene.”
Arshad was told not to move around the shop but began shouting “for f***’s sake” and throwing papers.
He was asked to stop swearing but became “extremely aggressive” towards officers, telling one repeatedly to “f*** off”.
“He continued to, as police describe, square up to PC Bett,” Ms Currie continued.
Police found this intimidating.
Arshad, of Hopetoun Place in Kirkcaldy, then jumped into his Ford Fiesta and stared at the constable for “some time” before driving off.
He left, sticking his middle finger out of the window at the PC and drove past multiple times with his windows down and music blaring.
Sheriff’s withering verdict
On Thursday, he admitted acting in a threatening or abusive manner at the Burntisland High Street shop on October 23 2019.
His solicitor said: “On the date libelled, he was working in his father’s shop when an armed robbery occurred.
“He was angry, upset and shaken.
“When the police arrived, he perceived the police to have a bad attitude towards him.
“He now realised police were there to help him.”
Sheriff Alison McKay blasted Arshad’s actions.
She said: “You’re 36-years-old.
“An armed robbery takes place in your shop, police turn up and this is how you behave – completely unacceptable. They have a job to do.
“You probably distracted them.
“You should be old enough and wise enough to know better.”
The sheriff fined Arshad £470.
Robbery attempt
The would-be robber, who was 16 at the time, appeared in court in August and admitted attacking and attempting to rob staff at the High Street store on August 30 last year.
He further admitted maliciously damaging the window at Jason’s Newsagents by repeatedly striking it with the baton and to having an offensive weapon in the High Street.
After trying to rob the Co-op, he pursued the staff to Jason’s, where he hammered on the shutters until the glass window below cracked.
Police arrived after a panic button was pressed.
The drug-addled youngster from the Methil area, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was placed on a two-year supervision order and ordered him to carry out 225 hours of unpaid work.
The pregnant woman he attacked was taken to hospital but was not significantly hurt.
