Armed robber held up shop where next door neighbour worked

Court: McIlvaney was jailed for seven and a half years.

An armed robber bought a 20p packet of crisps before raiding a shop where his next door neighbour worked.

Shaun McIlvaney made no attempt to disguise himself as he robbed the shop in Bo’ness near Falkirk.

The shop assistant who lived next to the 45-year-old identified him by his nickname of "Dancer".

When McIlvaney was arrested by police he told them: "I'll get ten years for this."

At the High Court in Glasgow on Friday, he admitted stealing £300 from the Cadrow Convenience Store in the coastal town on May 21 this year.

McIlvaney was jailed for seven and a half years for threatening 62-year-old shop assistant Maureen Gardiner with a butcher’s knife.

Advocate depute Kath Harper, prosecuting, told the court that McIlvaney has two High Court convictions for assault and robbery. The court heard that McIlvaney went into the shop and bought a 20p packet of crisps. Seconds later he slammed his fist down on the counter and he had a large butcher's knife in his hand.

He told Ms Gardiner: "Open the till, open the till, gimme notes." Ms Gardiner was terrified and feared he would use the knife. She handed over the cash and he left.

Defence counsel Joe Cahill said: "He has an appalling record. He lived next door to the lady. He knew the lady and she knew him. He knew there was CCTV in the shop. He did this in the knowledge he would get caught. He regrets the upset he cause to this lady"

Lady Stacey told the robber: "I would have given you 10 years, but I will discount the sentence because of your early guilty plea."

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