A heinous robber who terrified two female employees at a Lanarkshire tanning salon by pretending he had a knife during a brazen robbery has been jailed for two-and-a-half years.
Serial offender Christopher Bonnar warned the women at Indigo Sun in Coatbridge that he had a blade before forcing them to hand over the day's takings.
Bonnar, 34, a prisoner, was sentenced at Airdrie Sheriff Court this week over the frightening incident; which took place on April 23 last year; he was on bail at the time of the offence.
Aga Mathieson, prosecuting, said members of the public spotted Bonnar acting suspiciously outside the salon around 9pm.
She told the court: "The female employees were at the reception desk, sorting the day's takings.
"Bonnar entered, wearing an eskimo-style hat with ear coverings pulled across his face to hide his identity.
"He approached the women and said, 'give me all the money. I don't want to hurt you but I have a knife'.
"Bonnar had his hand in his pocket and it looked like he was holding something.
"He again demanded money but the women refused to hand it over and one of them tried to press a panic button.
"Bonnar told her not to do that or call the police.
"He made his way behind the desk and one of the women threw a bag containing £354 towards him. He picked it up and left the premises."
Police arrested Bonnar a week later and he has been in custody since.
Defence agent Roberto Manini said his client has mental health issues and wasn't taking the proper medication at the time of the robbery.
The solicitor stated: "As a result, he has little recollection of this, but he is aware how upsetting it must have been for the staff."
Jailing Bonnar, Sheriff Paul Haran said: "Your record is significant and you have had a number of custodial sentences.
"I take the view that this is probably more serious than any of your previous cases.
"The sentence must reflect that. It would have been 40 months but I give you credit for your guilty plea at this stage and reduce it to 30 months."
The sentence was backdated to May 2.
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