A RECENTLY-RELEASED prisoner from Lochgelly who threatened to commit an armed robbery at a Fife store and take hostages, has now been jailed.

David Watson had initially avoided another prison sentence but failed to comply with his community-based disposal.

After the incident, he had claimed he was simply trying to get a lift as he was stranded in the village.

Watson, 40, of Lumphinnans Road, Lochgelly, appeared back at Dunfermline Sheriff Court to be sentenced again.

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

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 at the initial sentencing, “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.”

In January, Sheriff Peter Anderson had imposed a structured deferred sentence and told Watson this would give him some support in the community.

However, when the case returned to court for review, Sheriff Charles Macnair commented on Watson’s participation saying: “He’s just not bothered to turn up.”

He told Watson had been given a “very lenient sentence” last time but had failed to comply.

The court heard Watson still had part of previous sentence for robbery outstanding.

Sheriff Charles Macnair sent Watson back to prison to serve 204 days of his previous sentence to be followed by six months for this latest offence.