Toy gun robber snared by his walk

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/8307291.stm

Version 0 of 1.

A man who robbed a pharmacy in Ayrshire with his son's toy gun has been jailed for six years - after police identified him through his distinctive walk.

Colin Rae, 46, admitted taking £1,416 in cash and a quantity of drugs from Boots Pharmacy in Ayr in January.

The High Court in Glasgow heard how he was caught after walking past the local police station with his son.

An officer noticed that Rae had the same walk as the suspect who had been captured on CCTV footage.

The court heard how Rae, wearing a hood over his face, had used his eight-year-old son's toy gun to hold up the pharmacy in New Road, Ayr, on 23 January.

Police did not make a breakthrough until six months later when a detective saw Rae walking past Ayr police station with his son and noticed his distinctive gait.

What you had in your possession was a toy gun, however those who were in the pharmacy would not have known that Lord Brodie

Defence counsel Lorenzo Alonzi said that Rae, who had a long-term drug problem and was on methadone for 12 years, cared for his son after the death of his partner from a drug overdose in 2001.

He added: "On this day he took his son to school and kept the gun his son was playing with and used it in the robbery.

"There was no planning. His intention wasn't money, it was to get more drugs."

None of the cash or drugs was recovered.

Jailing Rae judge Lord Brodie said: "What you had in your possession was a toy gun, however those who were in the pharmacy would not have known that.

"It is altogether a terrifying experience for the staff and customers.

"You have been on methadone for 12 years and you will in that time have depended on pharmacies like this."