Off the hook: Galashiels phone shop robber avoids jail
A robber, who was part of a gang who stole more than £11,000 worth of devices from a mobile phone shop in the Scottish Borders, has narrowly avoided a jail sentence.
Selkirk Sheriff Court today (Monday) heard staff at the former o2 shop in Channel Street, Galashiels, had to hide behind a security door and activate a panic alarm when Iosif Pitigoi entered the store, along with four other men, five years ago.
Three of them blocked the door while two began ripping phones and tablets from the display stands during the robbery, which lasted around 90 seconds, on October 24th, 2018.
It was the second time the store, which has since closed, had been targeted in three months - with £11,000 worth of devices taken in an earlier raid.
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Pitigoi admitted - while acting with others - shouting, gesticulating and acting in a threatening manner towards two male employees; and ripping mobile phones and electronic devices from the display stands.
The 23-year-old, who gave an address in Ipswich, also pled guilty to a second charge of failing to appear at a previous court hearing in August 2019.
His solicitor, Mat Patrick, pointed out his client was just 18 at the time and had done some growing up since then.
Sheriff James Vaughan heard Pitigoi had already spent a short time behind bars in connection with the case and not been in trouble since, and ordered him to carry out 280 hours of unpaid work as a direct alternative to custody.
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