Armed robber who brandished blade at terrified shop assistant dies behind bars

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A Scots man who brandished blade at a terrified shop assistant and later said "I'm sorry about that" has died in prison. The Scottish Prison Service confirmed Andrew Whiteford had passed away at HMP Kilmarnock on Tuesday May 31.The 38-year-old was jailed for life in 2015 following a string of armed robbery and prison stints, the latest involving holding a 35-year-old shop assistant up at knife point.

Whiteford had went into the Nith Valley Co-op in his hometown of Kelloholm, Dumfries and bought a pot of yoghurt in 2014. He told the shop assistant to "put the money in the bag," and she believed that he meant the change that he was due.Whiteford then added: “No, the money in the till.

I’m robbing ya.” He then brandished a knife at the staff member, making off with £300.42.As he left, he told the staff member: “I’m sorry about that."The incident was caught on CCTV and Whiteford was arrested the following day.Initially, Whiteford denied any involvement but later confessed to the crime and showed police where he had thrown away the knife.Whiteford had only been free for nine months after robbing the same shop in 2011 and being sentenced to four years in prison.He had first been jailed for robbery when he was just 18-years-old and was later assessed as a posing a high risk to public safety.After being convicted at Dumfries Sheriff Court in 2015, he was then jailed indefinitely at the High Court in Edinburgh that same year.Judge Lord Uist said at the time: "It seems that nothing will stop you committing armed robbery."The order meant Whiteford would be closely monitored if granted parole and return to prison if he committed any further offences.Police Scotland have been advised of his death and the matter was reported to the