A teenager broke down in tears while attempting to rob a shop owner at knifepoint, a court has heard.
Stewart McKenna (19), of Durham Street, Monifieth, escaped a jail sentence following an appearance at Arbroath Sheriff Court on Tuesday.
He had previously admitted that on July 13, he presented a knife at the 61-year-old woman behind the counter at Ashgrove Mini Market, Monifieth, before demanding she fill a carrier bag with cigarettes.
The court heard McKenna had been drinking and taking mephedrone (bubbles) for more than two days prior to the incident.
Depute fiscal Arlene Shaw said the woman had been alone in the store when he walked in.
She said: ”During the late hours of July 12 and the early hours of July 13 the accused was drinking with friends. This continued and the accused became upset regarding his grandmother being unwell.
”The accused became aggressive and stated to a friend that he was going to get money and get ‘fags’.”
Ms Shaw said that McKenna’s friend knew he had no money and subsequently attempted to prevent him from leaving, fearing he would ”do something stupid.”
However, McKenna managed to leave the property and walked to the shop, where he entered dressed in a back hooded top with the hood pulled up.
She added: ”At this time she saw the accused had bloods on his hands and face. He asked for a bag, which she handed over then produced a black-handled kitchen knife with a six-inch blade from the waistband of his jeans, which he presented at the woman.
”He handed the bag back to her and instructed her to fill it with cigarettes.”
The woman refused to hand anything over and told McKenna to get out of the shop.
She was on the phone to her husband at the time, and he then called the police.
McKenna again demanded cigarettes, with the woman this time telling him ”you are not getting anything,” before warning him he was going to get into trouble.
Ms Shaw said: ”These comments appeared to have an effect. He put the knife back in his trousers and began to cry, then told the woman his grandmother wasn’t well.”
As he broke down, the shop keeper suddenly recognised McKenna, as his grandmother was a regular customer.
McKenna asked for a packet of 20 cigarettes, to which the woman replied ”no” and told him the police had been called, prompting him to run off.
Sheriff Derek Pyle said the case was ”bizarre” and sentenced McKenna to a community payback order of 200 hours with a supervision requirement.