A brave shopkeeper grappled with a would-be robber who demanded cash and threatened him with a bottle.
Hamilton Sheriff Court heard he managed to restrain Declan McIlduff until the police arrived.
McIlduff, 22, admitted attempted robbery at the USave shop near his home in Old Edinburgh Road, Viewpark, on February 5 last year.
Aga Mathieson, prosecuting, said he entered the shop about 5pm.
She told the court: “The accused had a white t-shirt pulled over his face and only his eyes were visible.
“He put a carrier bag on the counter and ordered the shopkeeper to put all the change from the till inside it.
“The shopkeeper refused and the accused then placed a glass bottle on the counter and threatened to hit him if he didn’t give him the money.
“Again the shopkeeper refused and pulled down the t-shirt from McIlduff’s face. The accused tried to run away but there was a struggle and he was restrained until police officers attended.”
McIlduff told the officers he wished to apologise to the victim of his botched robbery bid, adding: “I regret it.”
Defence lawyer Laura Kiernan said McIlduff has no previous convictions and has not been in trouble since this incident.
She stated: “He is in a different place now and is in full time employment.”
Sheriff John Speir deferred sentence until later this month for background reports.
*Don’t miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
And did yo u know Lanarkshire Live is on Facebook? Head over to our page to give us a like and share.