| Charles John Lamont (21), Gilburn Road, had previously admitted assaulting a man at Azmat’s Stores, in Mains Road, Hilltown, on January 26, by robbing him of a bottle of vodka at knifepoint.
The court was told the incident happened at 8.30am, when the shopkeeper saw the accused at the shop doorway.
He opened the door and asked what he wanted, at which point Lamont produced a large kitchen knife and demanded a bottle of vodka.
The shopkeeper gave him a bottle of vodka, but when Lamont demanded all the money in the till as well, the man refused and the accused ran off.
He was later traced following an appeal in the Tele, and the knife was found in his flat.
Today solicitor George Donnelly said Lamont had been very depressed and had been drinking to excess.
His family home had been burnt to the ground, and several members of his family had recently died of cancer.
He had been drinking at a friend’s house opposite the shop throughout the previous day and during the night and, in the morning, was desperate for more drink.
Mr Donnelly said Lamont had since referred himself to Tayside Area Council on Alcohol and to Cair Scotland to tackle his addiction to drink.
Sheriff Hughes told Lamont this was a very serious matter, and that it was his duty to protect the public.
“The courts must send out a very clear message that anyone involved in this type of offence must expect a prison sentence.
However, having read all the reports, I am going to take the very, very unusual view, and am not going to send you to jail today.
“I will defer sentence on you for six months so you can carry on with your treatment for alcoholism but, if you get into trouble during that time, the prison sentence will be in years.”
Sentence was deferred until December 17. |
