A pump attendant fled in terror from a stun gun-wielding robber during a botched raid on a Kinross petrol station.
The High Court in Edinburgh heard how Alexander Smith made a desperate escape from the Moto service station by the side of the M90 as his late-night assailant demanded cash from the till.
Jamie Miller (22) was warned that he faces a lengthy spell in prison when he appeared on Monday to answer for his failed robbery attempt.
Mr Smith (25) knew Miller and had let him into the shop, despite night-time trading usually being done through a service hatch. Miller used the stun gun to try to force him to open the cash drawer shortly before midnight on February 8.
He also pulled out a flick knife and threatened to stab Mr Smith to get money from the till.
The court heard how Mr Smith managed to run away from Miller, forcing him to flee empty-handed.
Mr Smith, who still works at the Turfhills service station, was left “extremely shaken” by the incident, according to his employers. He was unavailable for comment on Monday.
Two days later Miller joined friend Steven Finlayson (35) to rob the David Sands corner shop in North Street, Lochgelly. The pair managed to get away with £656 before police caught them.
On Monday Miller and Finlayson, both prisoners of HMP Perth, pleaded guilty to one charge of armed robbery before Lord Pentland. Miller also pleaded guilty to another charge of attempted armed robbery.
Prosecution lawyer Peter McCormack said: “Five minutes before midnight the accused opened the counter hatch and walked through. The complainer could see that he had something in his hand.
“He saw the accused press a button and he saw flashes and a clicking noise and realised that the accused had a black Taser or stun gun.”‘Open the tills and give us the money’He added: “The accused told the complainer to open the till and when the complainer asked him if he was joking he repeated the demand and pressed the Taser button. The complainer felt frightened and intimidated, and told the accused that he would open the till if the accused put the Taser away.
“Eventually the accused put away the Taser and pulled out a flick knife. The complainer opened the fire exit door and ran to the main building to raise the alarm.”
Mr McCormack said Miller and Finlayson threatened shop workers Emma Aird (28) and Thomas McLean (21) on February 10.
He said: “Sometime after 8.40pm the two accused came into the shop. After looking around the shop they approached the cash registers and the accused Miller said ‘Open the tills and give us the money’.
“Emma Aird asked him if he was joking and the accused Miller repeated his demand. Emma Aird then realised that both accused were wearing blue surgical gloves.
“The accused Miller produced a kitchen potato knife, which was long, and then brandished it at Emma Aird. She opened a cash register.”
He added: “The accused Miller demanded that the witness McLean fill a bag with money and he did so using a David Sands plastic bag.
“The witness Aird then went over to the panic button and activated it. Both accused grabbed the money and ran out of the shop.
“The police were called. The cash registers were checked and the sum of £656 was missing.”
The pair were arrested soon afterwards.
Sentence was deferred until June 14 at the High Court in Glasgow for reports.