A ROBBER who raided a till in Saltcoats has been placed under supervision for a year after previously trying to rob a shop with a plastic bag on his face.

Mark Gallagher, 54, pleaded guilty to the theft at Scott McKinnon Aesthetics when he was brought out from custody on April 4, while a not guilty plea to a second allegation was accepted by prosecutors.

Gallagher, of St Lawrence Place, Saltcoats, was previously jailed after raiding his nearby newsagent with a bread knife wearing a plastic bag around his face during the earlier incident – before his mask slipped and he was recognised by staff.

The Procurator Fiscal depute said: “At 1pm on January 15, 2022 an employee observed him remove money from the till. The accused then ran. The employed noted £100 was missing.

“Police were contacted, although their attempts to trace him were unsuccessful at that time.”

When he returned to court on May, 24 he was placed on a community payback order and was placed under supervision for a year.

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