A would-be shop robber has avoided jail after turning his life around.
Declan McIlduff was foiled by a brave shopkeeper who he grappled with before he was restrained until the police arrived. McIlduff, 22, admitted attempted robbery at the USave shop near his home on Old Edinburgh Road, Viewpark, on February 5, 2023.
He appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court this week and was ordered to do 150 hours of unpaid community work, reports Lanarkshire Live.
Sheriff John Speir told him: “This is a serious offence that certainly passes the threshold for custody, but I’m satisfied that the appropriate course is a community-based sentence.”
Aga Mathieson, prosecuting, said McIlduff entered the shop at about 5pm. She told the court: “The accused had a white t-shirt pulled over his face and only his eyes were visible.
“He put a carrier bag on the counter and ordered the shopkeeper to put all the change from the till inside it. The shopkeeper refused and the accused then placed a glass bottle on the counter and threatened to hit him if he didn’t give him the money.
“Again the shopkeeper refused and pulled down the t-shirt from McIlduff’s face.
“The accused tried to run away but there was a struggle and he was restrained until police officers attended.” McIlduff told the officers he wished to apologise to the victim of his botched robbery bid, adding: “I regret it.”
Defence solicitor Laura Kiernan said McIlduff, originally from West Lothian, had moved to Viewpark after suffering health problems. She stated: “These led to him taking drink and drugs to cope. His life was on a downward spiral.
“However, the criminal justice social work report is very positive. He is back living with his mother in West Lothian, he has a job and is reunited with his partner.
“There are no cases outstanding and he has been in no trouble since this incident. He is assessed as at a low risk of re-offending.”
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