A pub-owning Dundee couple told how a masked man walked into their bar armed with a screwdriver and demanded money.
Nine Maidens owner Andrew Wightman and his wife Margo described the incident as “scary” and said their attacker should been jailed for longer than the 32 months imposed.
Steven Andrew Anderson (22), described as a prisoner at Edinburgh, admitted that on March 4 at the Nine Maidens, Laird Street, he assaulted Craig McIntyre, c/o the Nine Maidens, with face masked, and presented a screwdriver and hammer at him and attempted to rob him of a sum of money.
The court heard that Mr and Mrs Wightman were in the pub, while Mr McIntyre was working as head barman, at around 11.30pm when they saw the accused entering the bar with a scarf covering his face.
As they watched, he went through a door that took him behind the bar towards the staff area.
Mr Wightman ran from the bar to the staff entrance and saw the accused coming towards him with a screwdriver in one hand and a small hammer in the other.
When the accused reached Mr McIntyre he shouted, “Gie is the f****** money.” He was also heard to say the words “money” and “till.”
Mr Wightman ran behind the bar and pinned the accused to the ground, assisted by father-of-two Mr McIntyre, and held him until police arrived.
Anderson was arrested and taken to police headquarters.
Solicitor Jim Caird told the court that Anderson had been under the influence of diazepam and his actions had been very stupid and if it was planned, it was not very well planned.
He said Anderson’s house had been broken into and he had been robbed of his possessions and had also had an argument with his girlfriend who had kept his money.
In a fit of despair, he had decided to rob the nearby Nine Maidens pub, which serves the St Mary’s housing estate.
Continued…
Mr Caird said it was not an easy target and staff had easily overcome him. He said the hammer was very small and light, the type used on buses to “pop” the windows in cases of an emergency.
Sheriff Munro jailed Anderson, who has a string of previous convictions, which have led to previous periods of imprisonment, for 32 months.
After the case, Mr and Mrs Wightman said they were pleased Anderson was brought to justice but thought his prison sentence should have been longer.
“I am glad that he was caught and has been sent to prison but think he should have got more,” said Mr Wightman (49).
“I don’t know his history and if he has been in trouble before.
“Anyone who walks into a pub armed is scary it is scary for the bar staff and anyone else who is there. People like that should be put away for a long time.”
Mrs Wightman said, “I was shocked by what happened that day. It was quite frightening for all of us. I think he should have got longer than 32 months.”
Mr McIntyre said when he was asked for the money he refused.
“That seemed to confuse the boy and he ran away,” said Mr McIntyre, adding that he gave chase with Mr Wightman before the two wrestled Anderson to the ground.
“The two of us sat on top of him till the police came.”