An armed robber who terrified shop workers by lunging at them with a knife claimed that he had no recollection of the incident.
Perth Sheriff Court was told that there were “major concerns” for Paul McIntyre’s memory after he experienced significant blanks, caused by excessive alcohol consumption.
Although he was unable to remember the incident, which saw him slash at a member of staff with a seven and a half inch-blade, the 27-year-old quickly admitted his guilt.
Solicitor Rosie Scott said: “He has accepted responsibility for his actions. At the start, he has said ‘I want to plead guilty to this’.
“There are significant gaps in his memory from that day. I had major concerns for his memory and the gaps in it.”
McIntyre attempted to hold up the Co-operative store in Scone on December 27 last year by covering his face and brandishing a seven-and-a-half inch blade at a member of staff, ordering her to empty the till.
The horrifying incident was captured on the shop’s CCTV system, with the accused seen to lunge across the counter at his victim, repeatedly slashing the knife at her in what was described as a “stabbing motion”.
She was able to activate a panic button and her colleague phoned the police before they both fled from their attacker. They barricaded themselves in a cupboard, blocking the door in a frantic bid to protect themselves.
By this time, McIntyre had fled the scene but, despite his attempts to disguise himself, police officers soon traced him.
Depute fiscal Charmaine Cole said: “When they arrived at his house, McIntyre’s partner challenged him about his actions and he burst into tears. He told her ‘I robbed the Co-op. I didn’t get any money’.
“She told him to get out of the house and he was thereafter apprehended by the police.”
The accused’s girlfriend wrote a letter to the court in a bid to persuade Sheriff Alistair Brown to show leniency.
She revealed that he was remorseful for his actions and said he was “not a threat to the public”, as well as asking the court to consider the impact it would have on their child.
McIntyre, described as a prisoner at Perth, admitted that, with his face masked, he assaulted an employee at the Co-op on Perth Road, Scone, by presenting and brandishing a knife, placing her in a state of fear and alarm and repeatedly demanding that she open the cash register, and that he attempted to rob her of a sum of money.
Imposing a custodial sentence of four and a half years, Sheriff Brown said: “Those who consume excessive amounts of alcohol will frequently do things that they will afterwards regret.
“Robbery, or attempted robbery in any shop, including a relatively small shop like this one, is a serious crime. In this case, you caused your victim very significant and lasting emotional stress.
“Your crime is aggravated by your possession of a large knife, which you had taken from your girlfriend’s house and had armed yourself with. That was a weapon capable of terrifying and, if used, inflicting a wound which could easily have been fatal.”
Sheriff Brown also slammed McIntyre for covering his face, which he said caused further anxiety to his victims, and highlighted his previous convictions for assault and assault to severe injury.
He continued: “You are said to be remorseful and I accept that, although the value of your remorse is reduced by the fact it only manifested when police officers came looking for you.”