Eight years for Edinburgh jewellery raid thief
A man has been jailed for eight years for his part in an armed robbery of an Edinburgh jewellery store.
Michael Hood was found guilty of robbing Hamilton & Inches in George Street of watches and gem-studded jewellery worth £1.35m in June 2014.
Hood, 32, a father of one from Royston Mains in Edinburgh, was convicted by majority verdict at the High Court in Livingston, West Lothian.
Judge Lord Glennie told him he had been convicted of a "very serious" offence.
Lord Glennie said: "This was an armed raid in broad daylight.
"You snatched a very valuable collection of watches and jewellery from one of the principal shopping streets in Edinburgh.
"The gang, of which it's been found you formed a part, armed with machetes and axes clearly terrorised the people within the shop.
"Your role was clearly that of the getaway driver although, as part of the gang, you bear equal responsibility in law.
"In sentencing you, I think I must take account of your lesser role in the affair."
During the trial the jury was shown CCTV footage of the armed robbers smashing display cabinets and emptying the contents of displays into rucksacks in the 90-second operation.
The three men, wearing balaclavas and boiler suits, took rings, necklaces and Patek Phillippe watches.
They made their escape in a white BMW driven by Hood.
Det Ch Insp Stuart Houston, of Police Scotland, said: " As a result of excellent police work across a number of police forces, we were able to bring Michael Hood to justice.
"This robbery left several members of staff extremely shaken and caused extensive damage to the premises on top of the loss of the luxury items.
"His conviction today should serve as a reminder that offences of this nature will not be tolerated and those found to be responsible will be brought to task."