Clueless crook unmasked

A DIM-WITTED robber was snared by police after taking his balaclava off in full view of a petrol station CCTV camera, a court has heard.

George Thomson, 46, covered his face when he tried to rob the Shell service station in Mayfield, Midlothian, in July 2011.

Yesterday Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard Thomson, of Mayfield, failed to open the till in the garage’s store and was leaving when he decided to take his mask off.

He looked straight into the camera and left police with enough information to identify him.

Thomson pleaded guilty to committing an attempted armed robbery at the garage before Sheriff Alistair Noble yesterday. He will be sentenced next month.