Apologetic robber jailed after armed raid on Grangemouth bookies

An apologetic robber who targeted a lone woman worker in an armed raid on a Grangemouth bookmaker has been jailed for four years.

Jamie Smith (33) produced a knife as he demanded money and access to tills at the betting shop.

Smith escaped with £419 but was later detained by police and said: "I am sorry for what I done to her."

A judge told him at the High Court in Edinburgh on Tuedsay: "Those serving the public in the course of their employment must be protected from persons like you."

Lord Armstrong said he had read a victim impact statement and added: "It is clear from its contents that your criminal actions have had a continuing serious, detrimental effect on her life."

Smith, a prisoner in Edinburgh, earlier admitted assaulting the woman and robbing her of money at Ladbroke Racing in Grangemouth’s La Porte Precinct on January 14 this year. He also pled guilty to possessing a knife.

Lord Armstrong said that he noted Smith has expressed remorse, but told him that if he had been convicted after a trial he would have been jailed for six years.

The judge pointed out that he has amassed a criminal record of some 70 previous convictions and was previously jailed for 40 months for robbery.

Smith was caught on camera staging the latest raid and CCTV footage was earlier shown to the court.

Unemployed Smith could be seen jumping over a counter before pursuing the employee.

Advocate depute Isla Davie QC said that minutes before the robbery Smith came into the premises and asked when closing time was before leaving.

He returned a short time later and went up to the cash desk and said "excuse me" before jumping over it.

He said to the victim: "Give me your money. I need money." As he approached she noticed that he had a knife.

Miss Davie said that Smith appeared "panicky", telling the worker that he needed money and was not going to hurt her. After he emptied cash from tills he fled from the premises.

The court heard that he lost his employment and ran up debts.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you