An armed robber who was chased out of a Dundee newsagents by a feisty pensioner has been sent to prison for a year.
Brian Millar was forced to flee from the store he was raiding by the brave 70-year-old woman who had stepped in to work behind the counter.
Fearless pensioner Jean McGill stood up to Millar as he repeatedly tried to hit her with a hammer as she protected the takings in the shop till.
Ms McGill – who was only working to cover her brother’s illness – pulled a hammer of her own and lashed out at Millar as he tried to steal money for drugs.
Millar managed to grab a handful of notes before running from the scene – followed by the plucky OAP who hurled her own hammer at him as he scarpered.
Sheriff Jillian Martin-Brown said: “The nature of the offence is a violent one so I will have to impose a custodial sentence.”
She jailed Millar for 12 months and added a six-month period of supervised release.
Drug problem
Solicitor Mike Short, defending, told Dundee Sheriff Court: “I’m glad to say he is totally ashamed of his behaviour. The footage supports the fact she is one very brave lady.
“He is fortunate that he came upon a Dundee lady who does not scare easily. It may be that this lady, who had to defend herself, will not have any long term problem, but other people might do in this situation.
“He is fortunate that he met his match – and more.” Sheriff Martin-Brown said:
“She certainly gave as good as she got.”
Mr Short continued: “He is mortified about his behaviour against a lady of her age. He has crossed a line and he understands that.
“People have to realise you cannot do this and it is unfair for the public to be in fear of this type of behaviour. The drugs are his problem.”
Hammer throw
Millar, 26, from Dundee, admitted assaulting Jean McGill at Forbes Newsagents in Clepington Road, Dundee, on 11 March this year. He admitted repeatedly trying to strike her with a hammer and robbing £200 cash.
Fiscal depute Lynn Mannion told Dundee Sheriff Court: “Jean McGill is 70 and was assisting the operation of the store due to the owner being unwell.
“At 4.50 am she was behind the till when the accused entered the store and immediately made his way to the till area.
“He had a hammer in his hand which he was brandishing and he said ‘give me the money.’ She said he would need to give her time to open the till.
“She reached for her own hammer under the till to try and scare off the accused. The accused made several attempts to strike her with his hammer.
“She tried to stop the accused and he swung the hammer towards her again which caused her to remove her arm away from the till.
“He ran out and she ran out and threw the hammer at him as he left.” She contacted the police and they were able to track down Millar at his home a few hours later.
He was found to have £115 cash left and two hammers.
Mr Short said: “I’ve known him since he was a young man and this is way out of his normal behaviour. It certainly deserves a custodial sentence.
“He lost his dad seven years ago and lost his mum last year. Before he lost his mum he was struggling. He went downhill, taking valium and crack cocaine.
“If he didn’t have a drug addiction problem, I don’t think he would put the public in this dangerous position. He is not trying to blame anyone.
“His decision making was very poor. He is going to spend a lot of his life inside and out of prison. He should be ashamed.”
Nails
Mrs McGill told us: “I’m not into violence, but I was so angry.”
She said she had been hammering nails just before Millar came into her brother’s shop.
“I think I was more shocked than anything because my brother has been robbed in here before.”
The pensioner said she is now scared to be in the shop on her own.
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