Shopkeeper pulled off robber’s mask to reveal regular customer

A robber was identified after a shopkeeper pulled off his mask and recognised him as a regular customer, a court has heard.

Mohammed Jabran, 20, was one of three men who held up Colinton Mains convenience store in Edinburgh. Two raiders wearing white plastic masks entered the shop, and a handgun, later established to be an air pistol, was aimed at Javed Iqbal, 45, who worked there, and Diane Miller, a customer.

A quantity of cash was grabbed from the till and packs of cigarettes were removed from a display. The gunman fled, and the second man also tried to run, but he was grabbed by Mr Iqbal who tore the mask from his face. Mr Iqbal saw it was Jabran, a regular customer who had also done decorating work in his home.

Mental health

The High Court in Edinburgh heard Jabran escaped, but was detained a few days later at a psychiatric hospital. He had a history of mental health problems.

The advocate-depute, Iain McSporran, said both Mr Iqbal and Mrs Miller had thought they were going to be killed, and they had been badly affected by their ordeal.

Jabran, who has previous convictions for possessing weapons and supplying drugs and was on licence from a 30-month sentence of detention, admitted the robbery on 2 June. He was sentenced to 34 months’ detention.