A PAIR of painters and decorators robbed a petrol station while high on drink and drugs and threatened a woman with a metal pole – after they were turned away from work and then ran out of cigarettes.

Robert Cameron, 49, and 39-year-old Sean McNellis admitted assault and robbery after lurking outside the Esso petrol station, Loans, on October 22 last year and then running off with money, cigarettes and confectionary.

The court heard the pair, both described in court papers as prisoners at HMP Kilmarnock, robbed the station after running out of cigarettes, having being turned away from their shift following a bender on booze and Valium.

When they appeared in the dock at Ayr Sheriff Court last week, procurator fiscal depute Craig Wainwright said: “At 2.30pm the complainer was on duty as a sales assistant and was the only member of staff working at the time.

“She became aware of two males milling around the pavement.

“Once all the customers exited and all cars left, both appeared in the shop premises. Both had raised hoods.

“At this stage she was concerned, thinking she would be dealing with intoxicated customers.”

Sean McNellis then said ‘I want fags’ and as the woman asked which brand co accused Robert Cameron raised a metal pole

Robert Cameron then stated: “Empty the till. Give me all the money in the till and I want all the fags.”

Mr Wainwright continued: “She activated the panic alarm. She anticipated it being inaudible, but it was in fact a loud alarm.”

With the pair undeterred, “she then handed them a quantity of cash from the till and a smaller quantity of cigarettes”.

“Robert Cameron lifted a small quantity of confectionary and placed it in his jacket pocket,” Mr Wainwright added.

Cameron’s solicitor said: “He moved to Scotland from Northern Ireland. He has a number of previous convictions which do him no favours.

“The job was cancelled and he decided to go for drinks, consuming alcohol and Valium.

“I’m advised he had never taken it before and never knew the effects, essentially giving him little to no memory of the date in question.”

Peter Murray, defending McNellis, said: “He attended work very much under the influence and was told he would not be working. I understand both were under the same condition.

“He had been drinking and taking other illicit substances.

“Having run out of money and cigarettes they discussed how to cure their difficulties while heavily under the influence.”

Sheriff Shirley Foran said: “I find no alternative to custody.

“You both have lengthy records. There was a degree of planning.

“I accept it’s not the greatest measure of violence, but presenting a weapon at a sole female employee would cause fear, alarm and distress.”

Cameron was jailed for 117 weeks, backdated from October 25. McNellis was jailed for 107 weeks.