Joseph Currie jailed over Jim Blair Insurance raid in Shawlands
A man who robbed an insurance office in the south side of Glasgow has been jailed for seven years and 10 months.
Joseph Currie, 46, pretended two bits of pipe taped together was a sawn-off shotgun during the raid at Jim Blair Insurance, Shawlands, on 28 February.
The High Court in Edinburgh heard that he made off with £2,773 in cash but was caught after admitting his crime to a taxi driver who drove him away.
Currie has three previous convictions for assault and robbery.
He had been released from prison six weeks before the latest offence.
During a previous hearing, the High Court in Glasgow heard how Currie, who is from Glasgow, told staff at the insurance office: "I have a package for you - a sawn-off shotgun - this is not a joke. Give me money."
Minutes later he told them: "I've been robbing banks for 20 years and I've not shot anybody yet."
Following the robbery, Currie was seen walking towards Shawlands Cross.
He later discarded the clothing he wore and the two pieces of pipe taped together.
It emerged during his sentencing hearing in Edinburgh, that Currie was caught after he took a taxi from Shawlands Cross to Glasgow city centre.
Currie was sweating heavily when he got into the cab and the driver asked: "What's wrong mate? Have you just robbed a bank?" Currie then replied: "Yes."
He was later questioned by police and led them to the bin in Norfolk Street, Glasgow, where he had dumped the discarded clothes and pipes.
Passing sentence, Lord Pentland told Currie that he had no other option but to send him to prison.
He added: "You have pleaded guilty to an extremely serious offence. This must have been a terrifying experience for the staff there. You presented what appeared to be a sawn off shotgun and threatened to shoot them.
"You also have numerous convictions for assault and robbery. I am going to impose an extended sentence."