'Hard-up' robber gets six years

The court heard that Cooney would be supervised on his release

A man who held up an off-licence using a toy gun before attempting a second robbery has been jailed for six years.

Brian Cooney, 32, robbed a branch of Haddows in Dundee and a Cheque Centre outlet in the city after claiming he fell on hard times.

Cooney had earlier admitted assault and robbery at the Hilltown off-licence in May and assault at the Cheque Centre the following month.

He was jailed after he appeared at the High Court in Edinburgh.

Judge Lord Macphail told Cooney, who has a lengthy criminal record, that he would also be kept under supervision for two years following his release.

CCTV footage

Cooney, originally from the Manchester area, had been staying with a friend in Dundee whom he met while working in Fuerteventura, in the Canary Islands.

After stealing an imitation handgun, he robbed the off-licence on the night of 18 May, removing £147 from the till drawer.

Cooney later entered the Cheque Centre and told a female assistant: "Give me all the money."

She returned with a box containing £25,000 but Cooney had disappeared.

He was stopped by police several days later after being recognised from CCTV footage, and said he needed money to get back to Fuerteventura.

Cooney also admitted stealing and possessing an imitation firearm.