Schoolboys, 13, admit armed theft

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Two schoolboys who staged an armed robbery when they were aged just 13 have avoided detention.

A judge told the pair, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, that he had decided to refer them to the children's hearing system.

The boys had threatened a terrified female shopkeeper with an air pistol in Stranraer on 4 January.

After threatening her with violence, they stole cash and cigarettes before escaping.

The pair, now aged 14 and 13, admitted carrying out an assault and robbery at Leafield Stores in the town's Woodland Road.

They also admitted committing a firearms offence by possessing an air pistol during the raid.

Sitting at the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Hodge told the pair he would refer their case to the children's panel.

He is not a boy who could effectively be described as out of control or beyond assistance Andrew HoustonDefence solicitor advocate

He said: "You have involved yourselves in a very serious offence. Armed robbery and possession of firearms is completely unacceptable.

"I recognise you both had difficulties in your lives but you must understand you cannot help yourselves by harming other people.

"All that such behaviour will do is get you into very serious trouble and you and your families will suffer as well as other people."

William McVicar, defence solicitor advocate for one of the boys, told the court that great efforts had been made to try to put the boy's life back on "some sort of even keel."

Mr McVicar argued it was a case where the judge could make a "wholly exceptional disposal" and said the teenager would not take that as a sign of leniency.

Andrew Houston, defence solicitor advocate for the other boy, said the teenager's "reward" for taking part in the robbery had been £20 and three packets of cigarettes.

Mr Houston said: "He is not a boy who could effectively be described as out of control or beyond assistance."