A THUG who threatened to kill a man in Dalmuir while armed with a shovel in a row over money is facing a jail sentence.

Robert Robinson broke into a shed and stole the shovel before taking it to a flat in Dalmuir Court and demanding cash from his terrified victims.

The 31-year-old appeared from custody at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on July 21 after previously admitting forcing open the shed, stealing the shovel, repeatedly striking the door of a flat, demanding money under threats of violence, and placing the two people living at the address in a state of alarm.

Heather Galbraith, prosecuting, said Robinson, who was listed in court papers as an inmate at Greenock prison, had known his victim for “a number of years”.

Ms Galbraith said Robinson and another man had entered the building on March 31 and that Robinson had forced entry to the shed and removed a wooden-handled shovel.

Robinson shouted through the door: “If you don’t give me my money, I’m going to kill you.”

The victim refused to open it and Robinson said: “Open the door or I’ll come through it.”

Through the door’s peephole Robinson was seen taking the small shovel from his sleeve. Again, the homeowner refused to leave the flat and contacted police.

Robinson was seen leaving with the shovel. He then detached the metal spade from the handle and discarded both.

When he was arrested and cautioned and charged with the original three offences, Robinson replied: “See that thing I went to the door with, it was lying outside.”

He also replied, “because I got attacked through the letter box with a knife” and again, “because I got threatened with a knife”.

Sheriff Frances McCartney deferred sentence to consider whether a supervised release order will be needed when Robinson is let out of jail.