A former NHS worker who shoved a 73-year-old Angus man to the ground then threatened to stab him with a knife during a robbery bid has been jailed for four-and-a-half years.
William McBain attacked pensioner Francis McGuigan on Marine Avenue, Montrose, on May 8. The thug shoved Mr McGuigan to the ground then leaned over him and demanded his wallet before threatening to stab him with a knife he was carrying.
McBain, 53, then told police: “I’m not a violent man.”
Dundee Sheriff Court heard McBain, described as a prisoner at Perth, had worked for the NHS as a caterer until two years ago but at the time was jobless and living in his car.
Depute fiscal Nicola Gillespie told the court that McBain had never been in trouble with the police until the incident.
She said: “He was found in possession of a 10-inch knife shortly thereafter. He told police, ‘I’m not a violent man. I demanded that man’s wallet and I shouldn’t have done it’.”
Defence agent Lynne Sturrock said: “He’s well aware of the seriousness of this and that a custodial sentence is foremost in the court’s mind.
“Until about two years ago he worked for the health service and had no experience of custody whatsoever. His explanation is that he simply has no idea what made him do it.”
Jailing McBain, Sheriff Alistair Brown said: “If you had been in any trouble before, I would have considered my powers of sentence were not adequate and I would have sent you to the High Court because my maximum penalty is one of five years. Because you have no previous convictions, I will not do that.
“Let it be understood very clearly by you and by anyone else who reads about this case that a person who attempts an armed robbery using or threatening to use a knife may expect a severe sentence.
“In this case, the age of the person you attacked does not help you. From his point of view, he could not have known that you had never been in trouble before or that you did not mean your threat to use a knife.”