A north-east man has been given 300 hours of unpaid work and a year-long curfew after carrying out raids on two petrol stations.
Ciaran Anderson hid his face with a friend’s jumper and brandished a kitchen knife when he struck at a forecourt on Watermill Road, Fraserburgh in the early hours of May 10 last year.
The 20-year-old then used the blade to threaten a member of staff and made off with £200 and cigarettes.
But he was spotted heading into a block of flats and was apprehended by police the following day.
Anderson was bailed but, six months later, took the opportunity to strike once more.
However this attempt, at Ythan Service Station in Ellon on November 12, failed when the member of staff did not cave to his threats.
Anderson admitted to the crimes back in May but his sentencing was deferred to allow for a clinical psychological report to be compiled.
He re-appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday to learn his fate.
Sheriff Jack Brown said: “This is indeed a very difficult exercise because I have read the number of reports and there is no doubt you have suffered traumatic events in your young life.”
He acknowledged that Anderson has not re-offended since having a curfew imposed last year and, in line with this, opted to impose a “robust but non-custodial sentence.”
This included 300 hours of unpaid work to be completed within a year and a 7pm to 7am curfew for the next 12 months.
He also ordered Anderson, of George Garden Avenue in Peterhead, to be supervised by social workers for three years.
Sheriff Brown added: “You should be very clear that if you were to breach any aspect of the orders I have imposed there will be waiting for you a significant custodial sentence.”