Robber who used 'farcical' disguise in raid sentenced to prison

An armed robber who threatened to stab a shopkeeper during a raid for cash has been jailed for four years and eight months.

Scott McMillan, 26, donned a stocking mask to commit the crime but his victim at first thought it was a joke as he recognised him as a regular customer.

But Eldho Vattakkattiel was then confronted with a knife and demands for money from the till.

Judge Lord Uist told McMillan: "I have viewed the CCTV footage of the crime being committed and it is clear from this it must have been a terrifying incident for the shopkeeper."

He added: "You entered the shop in question wearing a stocking mask over your face, repeatedly brandished a knife at him, threatened to stab him and robbed him of £295, which was not subsequently recovered.

"You told your girlfriend you were going to commit the robbery and afterwards returned to her with the money you obtained.

"You have an anti-social personality disorder. You have been assessed as highly likely to re-offend and as constituting a serious risk to the public."

He said he would have jailed him for seven years for the offence if he had been convicted after trial. Lord Uist also ordered that McMillan be kept under supervision for a further five years.

Advocate depute Stephen O'Rourke earlier told the court: "The victim recognised the accused as a regular customer at the shop and therefore initially thought it was a joke.

"It was only when the accused produced a large knife and walked behind the counter and threatened him that he realised it was a robbery," he said.

McMillan was handed cash from the till but realised there was more money still in it and said he would stab Mr Vattakkattiel if it was not handed over.

The court earlier heard that McMillan, who has previous convictions for assault and robbery, had spent two days taking drink and drugs and had no recollection of events.

He said the robber was "genuinely remorseful" for what had happened to the shopkeeper whose convenience store he had patronised for a period of time.

He added that the disguise adopted by unemployed McMillan for the armed raid was "farcical".

McMillan, of Edzell Street, Dundee, previously admitted assaulting Mr Vattakkattiel on January 29 this year at Rachu's shop in the city's Victoria Road, by entering the premises with his face masked, demanding money, brandishing a knife, threatening to stab him and robbing him of £295.

Speaking after the case Mr Vattakkattiel said he had been left shaken by the incident. He also added that he now fears for his safety while working at the shop.

Related articles

People who read this story also read