ADDICT HELD UP BOOKIES

Apr 27 2007 Stirling Observer

A MAN who held up a bookies three hours after he had been in the premise to place a bet was jailed for two years on Wednesday.

James McCorgray (39) walked into Ladbroke Racing in King Street, Stirling, with his face masked by a scarf and wearing a hat and gloves.

He brandished a knife at cashier Stephanie Goodman and shouted "give me the f*****g money".

Miss Goodman refused and pressed a panic button, but McCorgray leaned over the counter and grabbed three bags containing a total of £40 in change.

The incident happened about 6.15pm on December 29 last year.

Stirling Sheriff Court was told that, about 3.20pm on the same day, McCorgray had been in the shop to place a bet.

On his second visit he was immediately recognised by Miss Goodman, despite his disguise, and he was also clearly identifiable from CCTV footage of both visits.

Shop staff called police, and he was arrested nearby, still in possession of the knife, scarf, hat, gloves and bags of money.

McCorgray, of Menzies Drive, Raploch, pleaded guilty to armed robbery.

Frazer McCready, defending, said McCorgray was a heroin addict whose methadone script had been cancelled by drugs rehab workers because he had gone to London for 10 days without prior negotiation.

Mr McCready said: "He tells me the offence was committed with the intention to obtain funds to purchase street drugs.

"He accepts he brandished the knife as a threatener, but he didn't use it, and it's fortunate that no-one was hurt."

Sheriff Andrew Cubie said a social enquiry report on McCorgray had warned that he posed "a high risk of causing harm".

Imposing the jail sentence, plus a one-year post-release supervision order, the sheriff added: "You have a bad record, and a weapon was employed in the robbery of a defenceless female with the motive of obtaining money for drugs. A custodial sentence is absolutely inevitable."