A down-on-his-luck punter robbed a Dundee bookmakers using a handwritten note on a betting slip demanding “money now!”
Anthony Bradburn fled with £280 from the Betfred store on the city’s Murraygate, Dundee Sheriff Court heard.
The 43-year-old was earlier asked to leave the establishment after running out of funds to place further bets.
When he returned, suspicious staff began transferring money from the tills to the safe as a precaution.
Bradburn appeared in the dock on Tuesday and admitted robbing the store in May last year.
He will be sentenced next month.
Ran out of funds
Depute fiscal Lynn Mannion said Bradburn has previous convictions for dishonesty and drugs offences.
“On May 13, the accused attended the Betfred shop at around 10am,” she said.
“He was asked to leave after attempting to place bets without means of paying.
“He returned at 1.30pm, but an employee there told him he could not place bets.”
Ms Mannion told the court: “Between 5.30pm and 6pm staff saw the accused come back into the shop.
“He placed a bet at the counter.
“He then asked to go to the toilet and was given the key.
“As a precaution staff then moved money from the tills to the safe.”
‘Dinnae touch the buttons’
The fiscal depute said: “The accused then walked to a table, and wrote on a betting slip.
“Staff initially thought it was a bet.
“The slip said ‘money now!’
“He then shouted ‘dinnae touch the buttons’ and demanded money from the till drawers.”
Betfred ‘working with the police’
Ms Mannion said Bradburn, whose address was listed on court papers as Travelodge, Glenrothes, was caught on CCTV entering and leaving the branch.
“£280 was taken,” she confirmed.
Sheriff Jillian Martin-Brown deferred sentence for background reports until April 12.
Police issued a public appeal following last year’s robbery.
A Betfred spokesperson said: “The safety of our staff and customers is paramount and we are working with the police.”
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