Jail for robber who sprayed blood on shopkeeper

A ROBBER who sprayed blood from a syringe at a shopkeeper was jailed for three years and eight months yesterday.

Craig Spence, 33, tried to jump on to the counter to get to the till in Parkash Newsagents, in Clarence Street, Paisley, and was pushed away by Anil Parkash, the assistant manager. He then produced a hypodermic syringe containing blood.

"He squirted the contents, striking Mr Parkash on the face and chest with blood and leaving splashes of blood on the display behind his shop counter," said the advocate-depute, Jane Farquharson.

Spence, of Rannoch Drive, Renfrew, grabbed the cash tray from the till and fled, but was caught nearby by police. He admitted assaulting and robbing Mr Parkash on 15 June.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard he had been drunk at the time.