A MAN who took part in an armed robbery at a post office to clear a drugs debt has been jailed for eight years.

Kevin Sloan, 28, and another man burst into the shop in Newton Mearns, East Renfrew-shire, and threatened the postmistress with a shotgun.

He was caught after he left behind his driving licence and rental agreement for the getaway van he had hired.

At the High Court in Edinburgh, his defence counsel Ian Duguid, QC, said Sloan, who is from Paisley, Renfrewshire, had got into debt with another man over his use of cocaine.

He said the theft at the RS McColl branch in Mearns Road on November 2 last year was apparently to help him clear the debt.

Judge John Morris told Sloan the offences to which he had pled guilty merited a substantial period in prison, not just to punish him but to deter others.

Sloan earlier admitted that, while acting with another, he robbed postmistress Marion McKellar of £5705 and €2351 at the post office by pointing a shotgun at her and threatening to shoot her.

He also pled guilty to assaulting Denise Hay by presenting the gun at her and threatening her with violence and to discharging the gun and causing serious damage to the post office door.

The court heard that Sloan and the other man, wearing masks, entered the shop shortly after 9am.

The Post Office section was behind a secure glass screen and a locked door. The lock was blasted off and while Sloan held the gun, the other man grabbed the money from drawers. The robbers made off in a van which was later abandoned.

Sloan, however, left behind his photo ID driving licence, the van rental agreement, and his mask, which was found to have his DNA on it as well as shotgun residue.

Mr Duguid told the court Sloan had got into debt with another man over his use of cocaine.

He said: "It was suggested he could clear this debt by becoming involved in the robbery of this Post Office and was presented with a shotgun."

He said Sloan had hired the van in his own name and licence. He had thought it was for moving furniture or goods for someone else. The trail of evidence left behind in the van led to Sloan being traced easily, said his QC.

Mr Duguid said Sloan only had two previous convictions – a breach of the peace when he was 18 and one of driving without insurance. His last job had been as a landscape gardener.

He added: "The problem has been a mounting debt for cocaine. It was suggested his mother be approached for the money, but he refused to let his mother be involved in this. It is the sole explanation why he became involved."