A RECENTLY-RELEASED prisoner from Lochgelly threatened to commit an armed robbery at a Fife store and take hostages.

However, David Watson later claimed he was simply trying to get a lift as he was stranded in Saline.

Watson, 40, of Lumphinnans Road, Lochgelly, is currently in prison and appeared by video-link at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

He admitted that on October 29, at Saline General Store, Main Street, Saline, he made threats repeatedly.

Depute fiscal Azrah Yousaf said that, at 10.45am, Watson had gone into the store and asked to use a phone.

He then called the ambulance service and said he was going to commit an armed robbery in the shop and take hostages.

The police were alerted and officers attended. They found Watson sitting outside the shop and he told them he had just been released from jail.

Defence solicitor David Bell said: “He was stranded in the village and was looking for a lift. He wasn’t thinking clearly at the time.

“He wishes to apologise. Clearly, he wasn’t intending following through on what he said.”

The court was told Watson was in jail for other offences and will be released at the end of this month.

Sheriff Peter Anderson imposed a structured deferred sentence which will be reviewed on April 26. He told Watson this would give him some support when he is released from prison this time.