A gun-toting raider who robbed a petrol station while “out of his face on cocaine” has been jailed for three years.
Firearms officers raced to the BP garage in Old Edinburgh Road, Viewpark, after hearing that John Burns had a weapon.
Hamilton Sheriff Court heard that when they disarmed him they found it was an imitation gun.
Burns, 26, admitted robbing a lone male attendant of cigarettes and alcohol on February 4. He also admitted possession of cocaine.
The court heard he was dressed all in black and had a hood over a baseball cap when he turned up at the garage’s Londis store shortly after 2am.
Rebecca Clark, prosecuting, said the assistant saw him waving what looked like a handgun and tried twice to call the police, but couldn’t get through on 101.
Ms Clark told the court: “The assistant ran from the shop. The accused himself dialled 999 and announced he was going to shoot someone.
“Police officers arrived and the accused was seen pacing up and down inside the shop. He took cigarettes and a bottle of wine from the shelves.
“Firearms officers asked him to drop the gun and he complied. He was then ordered to kneel face down which he did and was arrested.
“The gun was a BB air soft pistol that was unloaded and had no ammunition.
“Burns was found to be carrying a bag containing 2.7g of cocaine.”
Defence solicitor Scott Jones said Burns has “serious issues with drugs” which have had an impact on his mental and physical health.
Mr Jones added: “He has no recollection of this incident and is embarrassed by it.
“He knows his behaviour constituted a danger to the public and is unacceptable.”
Sheriff John Hamilton noted Burns has previous convictions for possessing an airgun and a knife and for serious assault using a knuckleduster.
The sheriff told him: “This was effectively an armed robbery that happened when you were out of your face on cocaine.
“You brandished a gun at a lone employee in the early hours. It must have been a terrifying experience for him.
“There have been interventions in the past and these do not seem to have worked for you.
“You have a responsibility to stay off drugs because when you take them you do things like this.
“You seem to be attracted to weapons and guns, and I don’t think there would be any benefit to you or society in considering a community-based order.”
The three-year jail term was backdated to February 5 as Burns has been in custody since his arrest.
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