A petrol station worker has spoken of facing down a masked knifeman who attempted to rob him while wearing a “crazy” disguise.
The would-be-raider covered his head with a pair of toddler’s trousers before targeting the BP filling station in King Street, Aberdeen.
He also wore a snood over his face, with holes cut for his eyes and mouth, and a high-visibility vest.
Uday Kiray, 25, said he was able to remain calm during the attempted raid, at around 8.30pm on Thursday, despite being confronted with a serrated kitchen knife.
He said that the bizarrely dressed man was working with an accomplice to rob the filling station of alcohol, cigarettes and money but left empty-handed after the standoff.
Mr Kiray said: “The first guy came into the shop wearing the disguise but I was busy at that point and did not take much notice.
“A second man came in, spoke to him, bought a £1 scratchcard and left. The first guy – the one with the knife – stayed standing at the drinks chiller.
“After a while, I started calling him because I knew there was something wrong.
“His face was covered and he had his head covered with toddler’s trousers. It was crazy Halloween-type stuff.
“I wanted him gone. It was getting dark and I was alone. I started to think about myself.
“I asked him if he was finished and he slowly started coming my way.
“He pulled the knife from his jacket and said, ‘I want you to get your till open. I want money, tobacco and alcohol. I am going to stab you. I am deadly serious’.”
Mr Kiray added: “The way he looked, the way he angled his knife and the way I heard his voice left me believing that I could handle the situation. He was not very bold.
“I didn’t want to try any heroics or panic. I had to think for a minute.”
Mr Kiray was able to dial 999 under the counter.
The pair became distracted by a customer, Mr Kiray lifted the phone and the two men then fled the premises empty- handed.
The man with the covered face is described as being around 5ft 5in and of slim build. He wore a yellow high-visibility vest, a navy hooded top and white trainers.
His accomplice is described as being about 5ft 8in and of slim build. He was wearing a black hooded waterproof jacket, grey tracksuit bottoms and dark trainers.