The disguises worn by a pair of Buckfast-fuelled armed robbers were so bad shop staff initially thought they were Halloween pranksters.
Drew Anderson was immediately recognised as a regular customer of the first shop he robbed at knifepoint with sidekick Aaron McMillan.
The duo – who held up two stores on the same evening – were clearly captured on CCTV and left a trail back to their drinking den a short walk away.
Anderson, whose mother stabbed his father to death, and McMillan both admitted the armed robbery of two Perth shops on October 24.
Anderson, 20, and McMillan, 29, both from Perth, admitted robbing Mina’s in North Methven Street – owned by a couple named Bashir – of £535 cash and a bottle of Buckfast.
They also admitted robbing South Street Newsagents and stealing money, cigarettes and a bottle of Buckfast.
Depute fiscal Eilidh Robertson said: “The couple who run the shop were aware of the accused entering.
“They recognised Anderson as a regular customer, even though he had clothing pulled up to partially mask his face. He produced a knife and said ‘give me the money’.
“Mr Bashir thought it was a Halloween prank until he saw Mr McMillan take a Buckfast bottle from the display and hold it in the air. He said ‘hurry up or I’ll smash the bottle over your head’.
“They took the money and the bottle of Buckfast with them.”
Police arrived a short time later and found Mrs Bashir crying. The couple were both shocked and upset. The Buckfast bottle was found empty nearby.
Miss Robertson said the duo then entered the second store and loitered for a few minutes while shop assistant Dianu Iulia dealt with a customer.
She said: “Anderson was holding the knife towards her. He had his face partially masked by clothing and said ‘give us money and cigarettes or I will kill you’. She did not respond, again thinking it was a Halloween prank. McMillan picked up a bottle and said he would smash it over her head.”
The duo took around £800 from the till, along with 30 packs of cigarettes and another bottle of Buckfast.
They were captured on CCTV outside McMillan’s home, where he dropped and smashed the Buckfast bottle.
Sheriff Lindsay Foulis deferred sentence and both were remanded in custody for reports.
Anderson has previously been locked up for 27 months for abducting his girlfriend and other offences.
Anderson’s mother Louise, 36, was jailed for six years at the High Court after she admitted killing taxi driver Douglas Anderson by fatally stabbing him in the leg during a row.
Louise Anderson claimed she had stabbed her husband during a drunken argument, but she had not intended to kill him.
She told a police worker: “The kids will never forgive me for killing their father.”
