Armed robber threatened Cumbernauld shop staff with 'toy gun' before making off with £40

An armed robber who held up his local shop told police he had used a “toy gun”.

Graeme McCreadie carried out the raid at the Spar store in Abronhill, Cumbernauld, in Lanarkshire on June 20 this year.

Prosecutor Louise Beattie told the High Court in Glasgow how a woman had spotted McCreadie, shortly before the crime, rummaging through a carrier bag in the street.

He stated to her: “Do not worry about this. It is just a pellet gun. It is not real.”

The woman then saw him clutching what appeared to be a dark coloured firearm before he walked off.

Minutes later, McCreadie went into the Spar shop, where he was known to the staff as he was barred for shoplifting.

Ms Beattie: “There were other customers and children in the shop at the time.”

Two workers told McCreadie he was not getting served – it was then he brandished the gun and demanded: “Give me your f***ing money”.

One of the shop assistants ran out of the shop in fear while the other opened the till and handed McCreadie £40 in banknotes.

The robber soon left and police were alerted.

McCreadie was traced two days later near his home. He was arrested and told officers: “It was just a toy gun”.

He later stated he was “sorry”.

The court heard the weapon was never found.

Ms Beattie: “From viewing CCTV footage, ballistics officers advised that, while it looked like a handgun, they were unable to establish if it was an imitation or a live firearm.”

McCreadie, of Cumbernauld, pled guilty to a charge of assault and robbery.

The court was told he already had 64 convictions, including for violent offences and dishonesty.

Lord Arthurson jailed McCreadie for five years for this latest crime.