A man surrendered to police shortly after committing a terrifying petrol station raid which saw him get away with a “quantity of energy drinks’, a court has heard.
Robert Livingstone, 27, left shop worker Shehroz Azmat, 29, in “shock and fear” after pointing what looked to be a gun at him at the BP filling station in King Street in Aberdeen, on June 29 2023.
The High Court in Edinburgh heard how Mr Azmat managed to press a panic button before running into a back office.
He then saw Livingstone – who is currently serving a 37 month term for a knifepoint robbery which saw him seize packets of Chewits sweets – steal packs of Red Bull and Monster drinks.
Livingstone then fled the scene. But later decided to go and hand himself into detectives based at the city’s Kittybrewster Police station.
On Thursday, prosecutor Eric Robertson told judge Lord Weir of how Livingstone conducted the raid.
Mr Robertson said: “As the accused approached the till area he pulled his shirt over his face to conceal his identity.
“The accused was holding an item within his right hand covered with white paper. From its shape it appeared to be a gun.
“The cashier froze briefly in shock and fear and pressed the panic button and fled into the back office.
“He locked the door from the till area to prevent the accused from getting through to the back.
“He pressed a second panic button in the office and also called the police by dialling 999 on his mobile.
“While in the back office, Shehroz Azmat continued to watch the accused on CCTV camera monitor screens. He stole various items.”
The story emerged after Livingstone, of Seaton Drive, Aberdeen, pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting Mr Azmat on June 29 2023 by pointing a concealed object which “had the appearance of a firearm” and by shouting at him and robbing a “quantity of energy drinks.”
It is not the first robbery carried out by Livingstone. He appeared in the dock at Aberdeen Sheriff Court earlier this year where he admitted robbing his local Spar with a bread knife before making off with alcohol and four packets of Chewits.
On that occasion, depute procurator fiscal David Rogers told the court that at around 2.45pm on January 9 2022, a worker at the St Machar Drive store saw Livingstone, whom she “recognised as a regular customer”, enter.
He approached the counter and said to the woman: “Give me the money in the till.”
Initially, the woman thought this was a joke, but Livingstone reached inside his waistband and pulled out a large knife.
Livingstone then repeated his demand.
Mr Rogers told the court: “The complainer activated the assistance alarm and took a step back from the accused, at which time he thrust the knife towards her in a stabbing motion in the general area of her torso, but no contact was made.”
Livingstone then tried to force open the till with his left hand, but was unsuccessful.
A male member of staff who’d heard the bell ring, attended at the front of the store where he saw Livingstone standing with a knife.
He ordered him to leave but he did not move.
Both staff members then retreated to the rear of the store where they kept watch on Livingstone via the live CCTV footage.
Livingstone was seen taking items from the alcohol and confectionary shelves before leaving the store.
Police were later searching for Livingstone when they saw him enter the communal hallway of a block of flats on Seaton Drive.
He was found to have two bottles of wine, a bottle of apple cider and four packets of Chewits.
The total value of the items taken was £12.81 and he was jailed for 37 months.
On Thursday, Mr Robertson told Lord Weir that following the robbery, police secured a search warrant for Livingstone’s property. They couldn’t find any firearms but found empty bottles of Monster.
Meanwhile, Livingstone went to the police station where he confessed to stealing items from the garage. He told officers he didn’t have a gun and he didn’t have one at the time of the raid.
Mr Robertson added: “He spoke freely. He admitted that he stole four boxes of Monster and numerous Red Bull energy drinks.
“He was cautioned and charged with robbery.”
Livingstone observed proceedings via video link as defence advocate David Moggach urged Lord Weir to obtain a background report on him.
Mr Moggach said that Livingstone had mental health problems and was “in touch with psychiatrists’.
Mr Moggach added: “I think a report in this case would be helpful.”
Lord Weir then deferred sentence on Livingstone. He will be sentenced at the High Court in Inverness on May 2 2024.
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