A hapless carjacker was foiled when he managed to lock himself inside the vehicle he was trying to steal with no way of starting the engine.
Mark Aitchison was jailed for a year and eight months yesterday after his ill-fated attempt was recounted at Dundee Sheriff Court.
He had been in a car with three associates in Arbroath when he jumped out and attacked Jordan Cowie and tried to search him for the keys to his BMW 5-Series car.
Aitchison – who was previously jailed over his part in a danger driving incident that led to the death of his friend – got in to the open motor where he managed to lock himself inside and set off the alarm.
Unable to free himself from the car, and without the keys, he tried to start the engine but only succeeded in releasing the handbrake and rolling slowly back into a car parked behind it.
His own lawyer described his robbery bid as “farcical”.
The court heard Mr Cowie ran back to his mother’s house to hide the keys and phone police.
Aitchison, 25, a prisoner at HMP Perth, admitted a charge of assault with intent to rob on August 16 in Brechin Road, Arbroath.
Solicitor Kevin Hampton said: “It is a very strange set of circumstances, bordering on the farcical.
“However, I understand that for the complainer it must have been a very frightening experience and I don’t make any light of that.”
Aitchison had been drinking heavily and the incident was “essentially a dare”.
Sheriff Alastair Carmichael said: “This must have caused Mr Cowie a great deal of alarm and distress.”
