A serial thief who targeted delivery lorries in East Kilbride told police “I just went to the shops to get fags for my maw”.
Dad-of-two Darren McCormack stole cigarettes worth at least £10,000 over a three-week period in September.
He then threatened a driver with a weapon after being bailed.
McCormack, 30, was last week jailed for two years and two months when he appeared by video link at Hamilton Sheriff Court.
He admitted a string of thefts from lorries in East Kilbride, attempted thefts, assault and robbery, and breaching a curfew.
Chloe O’Hara, prosecuting, said McCormack would creep into the back of a lorry while the driver was making a delivery and make off with cigarettes.
Two of the thefts happened at Buchandyke Service Station, one was in Murray Square and one was in Calderwood Square.
Police traced him through CCTV and he was arrested in December.
But he was bailed after a court appearance and within days had confronted lorry driver James Sommerville in Hawkwood, East Kilbride.
Ms O’Hara told the court: “McCormack had a woollen hat pulled down and a scarf covering most of his face.
“He pulled out an extendable baton, brandished it at the driver and demanded keys.
“These were handed over, but McCormack ran away without entering the lorry.”
By the time police caught up with McCormack the next day he had tried to steal from another lorry, but was disturbed.
Ms O’Hara added: “When police went to his home his mother let them in. McCormack arrived and told them ‘I just went to the shops to get fags for my maw’.”
Defence solicitor Marisa Borland said McCormack, of East Kilbride, had been abusing cocaine after the breakdown of his relationship.
She added: “His record does not make particularly good reading, but he had stayed out of trouble for three years before these offences.”
Passing sentence, Sheriff Ray Small told McCormack: “No disposal other than custody is appropriate given the pattern of offending and the serious nature of the robbery charge.
“There is also a blatant breach of bail which doesn’t help you.”
