Armed robber given chance to get a job and stay out of jail

A MASKED robber who apologised to his victims and was identified by his voice has been given a chance by a judge to avoid a prison sentence.

Brendan McGuckin, 28, threatened staff in a village post office and shop with an axe, and he could have expected to be jailed for about four years.

However, Lord Bonomy said he was not convinced a custodial term would be the best option in McGuckin’s fight against drink and drug addiction.

“I appreciate you did not expect to be walking out of here today,” the judge told McGuckin, of Oban, Argyll, at the High Court in Edinburgh yesterday.

“It is fairly exceptional… but I have taken the view that it is not the best way of securing the protection of the public in your case to sentence you immediately to a period of imprisonment.”

Lord Bonomy said he had in mind that McGuckin should pay compensation to the two women he had threatened, and gave him eight weeks to find work and to show he was taking steps to address his problems.

McGuckin admitted robbing the post office and village shop in Connel, near Oban, on 1 October last year. His face was covered with a balaclava and he held a 14-inch-long axe as he demanded money from Sarah Sinclair, 41, and Margaret Halliday, 56.

He said: “I’m sorry about this, just put the cash in the bag… I need the notes.”

Mrs Sinclair emptied £214 from the till and handed it over, and McGuckin fled. Police received information naming McGuckin as the robber and he was detained.

He was put on an identification parade and the women asked those in the line-up to say the words they heard during the robbery. Both positively identified McGuckin from his voice.

Defence counsel Stewart Ronnie said McGuckin, who has a minor record, was a diver who was injured and unable to work for a time. He had become depressed, and increased his alcohol consumption and the amount of cocaine he was using. He owed money to a dealer, and decided to commit the robbery.

Lord Bonomy said: “One good reason for jailing him is deterrence of others, but it is not, in my opinion, absolutely necessary to take that view in every individual case. It is the easy way out, just to look at what normally happens in not dissimilar cases.”

He added: I am not convinced at the moment that prison is the right solution.”

Lord Bonomy said he was considering ordering McGuckin to undertake community service, as well as paying compensation. He continued the case for eight weeks, for McGuckin to try to find work and to go to a psychiatrist for counselling.

He said: “I will still take some convincing that not jailing you is the right thing, but I believe you have the capacity to convince me it is not the right thing.”