A masked raider who terrified an East Kilbride shop assistant at knifepoint is facing jail.
Would-be robber Struan MacDonald admitted trying to rob the My Local Store on Cedar Drive, Greenhills, last March.
But the baby-faced attacker, of Manitoba Crescent, Westwood, also admitted assaulting his terrified victim.
He was eventually forced to flee empty-handed after brave staff refused to bow during their ordeal.
Twenty-one-year-old MacDonald – a regular customer at the store – was later traced after an anonymous phone call was made to the victim.
Hamilton Sheriff Court heard how the woman – along with another employee – were working when the raid happened shortly after 7pm.
Prosecutor Jennifer McLaren told the court: “She was cleaning a coffee machine.
“The accused entered the shop wearing a black balaclava and carrying a large hunting-style knife.
“He grabbed the witness by wrapping his arm round her neck and held the knife at her before dragging her towards the till area.
“He was shouting for her to open the till and give her all the money. The shop assistant said she was unable to open the till and MacDonald took a bottle of vodka and scanned it in an effort to open it himself.
“He then grabbed her again, by the hair, and held her head against the till. The accused pressed buttons on the screen, but was unable to open the till.
“He smashed bottles of alcohol on a shelf before running out of the shop empty-handed.”
At the time, Detective Constable Craig Jolly told the News the workers had endured a “terrifying ordeal”.
We told how the shop owner offered a £1000 reward to anyone who could help identify the would-be robber.
On April 14 the worker received an anonymous phone call telling her who the culprit was. She identified MacDonald via social media.
Ms McLaren added: “She knew him as a regular customer whom she had served on many occasions.”
MacDonald also admitted having an air rifle without a certificate. This was found by police when they went to his home with a search warrant on April 18.
Sheriff Mhairi Mactaggart deferred sentence until April 3 for a criminal justice social work report. McDonald had his bail continued.
