Armed robber fled Aberdeen shop into arms of police after threatening to stab woman

An armed robber fled into the arms of the police after a lone woman shopkeeper stood up to him as he threatened to stab her in a bid to get cash.

Balaclava-clad John Gallagher failed to get money in the raid on a shop in Aberdeen but snatched packets of cigarettes and was trying to flee when he was confronted by police officers.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard that when veteran offender Gallagher entered the premises at the Premier Store at Urquhart Road the owner told him to remove the head gear.

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Advocate depute David Dickson said: "In response, the accused produced a knife from his bag and pointed it at her and demanded 'take all the money from the till and put it in the bag'."

The prosecutor said: "He leant over the counter and again pointed the knife at Angnes Sivakumar and repeated his demand to open the till."

He said Gallagher, 50, was using the knife, which had an 18 cm cutting edge, to make stabbing motions at his victim.

Mr Dickson said: "He also pushed her on the body and struggled with her as she declined to yield to his demands. He also brandished a pair of scissors at her."

Ms Sivakumar, 46, made a 999 call and put the phone down as Gallagher opened a door to get behind the counter and tried to open the till with the keys.

He repeatedly demanded that the shop owner open the till and renewed threats to stab her before grabbing packs of cigarettes and putting them in a plastic bag.

Mr Dickson said: "Ms Sivakumar challenged the accused, attempted to stop him taking the cigarettes and managed to pull the balaclava from his head."

The call operator was able to hear Gallagher saying: "Give me the cigarettes, open it, open it or I'll stab you, open it now". The shopkeeper was heard saying: "I don't know how to open the till." She was then heard to shout: "Give me the key" before Gallagher shouted at her: "I'll stab you."

The prosecutor said: "Police officers, who were on mobile patrol were passing the shop when they noticed a disturbance within."

"They stopped their vehicle and coincidentally received a relay advising of the ongoing robbery as they entered the shop. As they did so the accused tried to run out and ran into the arms of the police."

He was wearing gloves and had a balaclava. He dropped bags containing the cigarettes and the knife used to threaten the shopkeeper was found in the doorway at the premises.

Mr Dickson told the court that following the incident Ms Sivakumar sold her shop. Footage of the robbery was shown to the court.

Gallagher, a prisoner, admitted assaulting the shopkeeper and robbing her of cigarettes on the evening on July 2 this year, when he appeared in court today. He committed the offence after being granted bail at Aberdeen Sheriff Court on April 2 this year.

Gallagher, who was jailed for seven years in 2012 at Liverpool Crown Court for robbery and has served other prison terms for violence and possession of an offensive weapon, also admitted unlawful possession of a knife at Urquhart Road, Aberdeen, on July 2 this year.

Sentence was deferred on Gallagher for the preparation of a background report.