A CARDENDEN man’s unsuccessful attempt to rob a local shop with an accomplice is set to bring him a jail sentence.

Darren Watson, 32, of Dundonald Park, appeared in the dock at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

He admitted that on April 11, at AY foodstore, Main Street, Cardenden, he assaulted Hafiz Abrar Ahmad, then in the course of his employment, by going behind the counter, pushing him on the body, attempting to seize a mobile phone from his hand and attempting to rob him.

Depute fiscal Kyrsten Buist told the court that at around 7.15pm, the shop worker saw Watson and his accomplice enter the store.

“They were wearing hooded tops with the hoods up. Darren Watson was drinking a can of lager,” she added.

Watson went behind the counter and pushed the assistant, demanding that he open the till.

“The accused then tried to grab a mobile phone from him. He said he needed money. Mr Ahmad refused and the accused left,” she added. The incident was caught on CCTV cameras.

Defence solicitor Roshni Joshi said: “He wholly accepts the seriousness of this matter.”

Sheriff Charles MacNair called for reports and bail was continued until sentencing on September 18.

The sheriff warned Watson: “Unless something very, very unusual happens, this is an offence that can only be dealt with by a custodial sentence.”

In June, the other man involved was jailed for his part in the incident.

Gordon Currie, 21, admitted he assaulted Mr Ahmad by brandishing a bottle at him, demanding that he opened the cash register, attempted to open it, struck it with a bottle and attempted to rob him.

Sheriff Craig McSherry jailed Currie for 16 months.