A customer brandished an air gun at startled shop staff after they refused to sell him pellets for it.

When police caught up with Jay Gibb they found he was also carrying a knife.

Gibb, 22, appeared from custody at Hamilton Sheriff Court this week.

He admitted threatening or abusive behaviour at Home Essentials in Quarry Street, Hamilton, on March 20, just two days after getting bail at the same court.

Gibb also admitted having a knife in McNeil Lane, Larkhall, without reasonable excuse.

Neil Thomson, prosecuting, said Gibb went into the shop and asked for gun pellets, saying he planned to kill himself.

The fiscal stated: “The shopkeeper refused to sell these and Gibb reacted angrily, stomping about the shop and shouting and swearing at staff.

“He then produced what was later established to be a BB gun and cocked the weapon in front of the shop staff.

“They again refused to sell him pellets and he waved the gun about before leaving.

“The matter was reported to the police and officers traced Gibb in Larkhall.

“He was searched and the BB gun was recovered. Officers also found a knife with a four-inch blade in a bag he was carrying.”

Gibb admitted previous convictions and defence agent Gregor Jarrott acknowledged he’d pleaded guilty to serious charges.

The solicitor added: “He struggles with his mental health.”

Sheriff Liam Murphy told Gibb: “This must have been a frightening experience for the shop staff.”

Sentence was deferred until later this month for background reports and he was remanded in custody.

*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.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Posts


This will close in 0 seconds