Two men who carried out a traumatising knifepoint robbery at a Forfar convenience store have been locked up.
A jury at Forfar Sheriff Court last month convicted Christopher McIntosh and Robert Campbell of a raid on the Best-One store in Taranty Road.
Armed assailant McIntosh threatened shopkeeper Muhammad Shakeel with a blade after lookout Campbell had first scoped out the shop.
McIntosh appeared from prison by video link and was jailed for 46 months, reduced from four years because of the time he’d already spent remanded.
Campbell was also jailed, for two years.
Members of the public had to be removed after one person shouted an expletive at the end of the hearing.
Armed robbery
Following the four-day trial, jurors convicted both McIntosh, 41, of Callander Drive, Forfar and Campbell, 37, of Glamis Road, Kirriemuir, of assaulting Mr Shakeel and robbing him of a sum of money.
The terrifying incident took place on September 1 2021.
The jury was shown CCTV of McIntosh, wearing a black coat with its hood up, glasses and gloves and a blue surgical mask, approach the counter.
He withdrew a knife from his sleeve and demanded money out the till.
McIntosh himself attended two-and-a-half hours earlier and was seen sizing up the counter, while Campbell arrived just seconds before the attack to check the store was clear.
In total, McIntosh reportedly left the shop with almost £3,000 in cash.
After the trial, Mr Shakeel told The Courier it was the first time he had pressed the panic button while working in his family shop.
He revealed he had undergone counselling and thanked the local community who have supported his journey back to work.
Back in the dock
Campbell’s bail had been continued following the verdict however McIntosh was remanded and appeared in court via a video link.
Sentencing had been deferred for background reports.
McIntosh hadn’t been sentenced to imprisonment since a High Court hearing in 2010 when he received more than five years behind bars for transporting £50,000 worth heroin from England up to Tayside.
His solicitor Sarah Russo said: “Mr McIntosh is 41.
“He is married and has two grown-up daughters.
“His position in relation to the offence remains the same as it was.
“He denies any involvement. That is perhaps unsurprising.
“Mr McIntosh does accept that he was found guilty.”
Ms Russo explained McIntosh suffers difficulties which had been exacerbated by the deaths of his two brothers in 2019 and 2020.
She added: “Mr McIntosh continues to have bereavement issues and anxiety.
“At the time of the offence, Mr McIntosh was struggling with his drug misuse difficulties and a downturn in his mental health.
“Mr McIntosh does have a considerable record, however he does not have a record for offences of violence.
“He is not assessed as presenting as an imminent risk of harm – not to himself or others.”
She said: “He has been assessed as suitable for alternatives to custody. He’s under no illusion as to the position he finds himself in today.”
Look-out
Following the conviction, Campbell’s solicitor Billy Rennie revealed his client had a pregnant partner and suffered from epilepsy.
Mr Rennie said his client also denied being what he described as “a look-out.”
“He had a record that mostly comes to an end in about 2013, Mr Rennie said. “There’s a road traffic matter after that.
“For the best part of 10 years, he’s stayed out of trouble.
“He’s someone who has not troubled the courts or the police with his behaviour for a considerable time.
“He’s co-operated fully.”
Behind bars
Sheriff Krista Johnstone jailed both men.
She noted that McIntosh had spent 44 days on remand and reduced his sentence from what would have been four years on that basis.
The sheriff said: “You’re a man who’s now 41 years of age.
“You were convicted by the jury of an assault and robbery carried out at commercial premises where a not insignificant sum of money was taken.
“This was also an assault and robbery that involved the use of a knife.
“The whole event must have been extremely terrifying for him.
“I consider this offence is of a most serious nature.”
The sheriff added: “I hold you culpably responsible to a high degree.
“I also find there to be a high degree of harm.
“I take into account your record. You have two convictions from the High Court.
“There’s no alternative but to deal with you by a term of imprisonment.”
The sheriff told Campbell his involvement was different but still serious.
She said: “However, this is a serious offence.
“Robberies at commercial premises are always dealt with seriously.”
After sentence was passed, a person was removed from court for tearfully shouting: “F***ing a***holes, the lot of you.”
The same person had been removed following the verdict for trying to hug McIntosh as he was being led away in cuffs.
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