Knife-wielding man is jailed for attempts to rob
A 35-year-old man who admitted two attempted robberies by knifepoint in Hawick has been jailed for 16 months at Selkirk Sheriff Court.
Wayne Todd, previously from Earlston but who gave an address in Hawick, pleaded guilty to the offences at the Premier store in Havelock Street, and at Morrisons petrol station on November 29.
Prosecutor Ruraidh Allison said Todd entered the Premier store around 7.30p.m. and brandished a cutlery knife before demanding £60 from the till. He was told there was no money in the till and grunted in response before leaving the store.
At 8pm, he entered Morrisons and demanded that the till be opened and pointed the knife at a male employee. Todd tried to reach over the counter and open the till, but failed.
Mr Allison said Todd was identified on CCTV footage and was arrested at Borders General Hospital on November 30.
Defence lawyer Liam Alexander said both incidents were very short incidents and after being told no he left the shops. But he accepted it would have been very concerning for the employees.
Sheriff Peter Paterson said they were “half-hearted” attempted robberies, but serious offences.
The 16-month jail sentence was backdated to December 1 when Todd was first remanded in custody.
In addition Sheriff Paterson imposed a six-month supervised release order and Anti Social Behaviour Orders banning Todd from the Premier store and Morrisons for three years.