Shovel-wielding thief threatened shopkeeper and smashed window and safety digicam

He admitted stealing meals gadgets, assaulting the shopkeeper and damaging property.

Hamilton Sheriff Court docket.(Picture: Hamilton Advertiser)

A shovel-wielding thief terrorised a Hamilton shopkeeper earlier than smashing a window and a safety digicam.

Andrew Patterson, 25, had threatened to kill the person after he was caught taking gadgets with out paying.

Patterson, of Burnhouse Crescent, Hamilton, appeared on the city’s sheriff courtroom this week.

He admitted stealing meals gadgets, assaulting the shopkeeper and damaging property at Keystore in Millgate Street on June 24.

The courtroom heard Patterson went into the store about 5.20pm. He was seen to select up gadgets, together with chocolate and spicy pork sausage, and put them in his pockets.

When challenged he mentioned he wasn’t going to pay and threatened to kill the shopkeeper who managed to get him out of the store.

The shopkeeper was in a “state of shock” however pressed a panic button and tried to drag down the shutters.

Patterson hit him with an promoting signal then went into a close-by backyard, picked up a shovel and returned to the store.

He struck a window a number of occasions with the implement, inflicting it to smash. He additionally broke a CCTV digicam and tried to prise open the store’s shutters with the shovel.

Cops arrived and arrested Patterson who was nonetheless appearing in an “erratic” method on the scene.

Patterson admitted earlier convictions and Sheriff Liam Murphy mentioned, given his document and the character of the offences, he would require background experiences earlier than sentencing.

The sheriff adjourned the case till subsequent month and continued bail.

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