Man used fake gun in attempt to rob postman

Apr 17 2008 By Our Court Reporter

A MAN who tried to rob a Lanarkshire postman of his van using a fake gun was last week caged for almost 12 years when he appeared at the High Court in Edinburgh.

The court heard that Azeem Sarwaar carried out the crime at the Paddock, Hamilton, on September 13 last year.

He had pointed the replica gun at Mark Wynn and demanded keys to his vehicle.

A few months before, 21-year-old Sarwaar — posing as a delivery man — had robbed a Cambuslang pensioner of £50,000.

He had called at the home of former special constable Hamish Allan with another Asian male on July 20.

One was carrying a parcel and the other had a clipboard, and when Mr Allan answered the door Sarwaar told him he had a delivery for him.

The men rushed forward and pushed Mr Allan to the ground.

A knife was held to his back and his hands were tied up with duct tape.

He was walked through to a rear room and the knife was put to his throat.

Sarwaar told the pensioner that he knew there were two safes, and that there was money from a property sale.

He demanded the code to the safe which he was given and asked for the key to a second safe.

Mr Allan later managed to free himself from his bonds.

No money, however, was recovered following the raid.

Sarwaar, of Gowanlea Drive, Glasgow, admitted the offences and Lord Brailsford jailed him for a total of 11 years and 11 months.

He was sentenced to seven years and two months for the attack on Mr Allan and a further four years and nine months for assaulting the postman.

A second man, Nasir Ahmed, was jailed by the High Court for eight years and eight months for assault with intent to rob and conspiracy to rob.

Former shopkeeper Ahmed, of Lancefield Quay, Glasgow, took part in an attack on a man at a house in Shotts.

Adam Preston was alone at home when a man with a clipboard called claiming to be from a utility company.

But Mr Preston told him he was not interested.

The caller then brought out a replica gun, and Mr Preston threw a cup of coffee he was holding at him and tried to close the door.

Ahmed kicked the door and Mr Preston picked up a mallet.

His attacker and another man ran off and got into a Mercedes driven by Ahmed.

But Mr Preston jumped into his own car and pursued them onto the M8 motorway.

He then rammed the back of the Mercedes before calling police.

Officers carried out a surveillance operation and armed officers stopped a BMW car with Ahmed inside on the Clydeside Expressway, Glasgow, on October 1.

The High Court was told that in the boot there was a cache of weapons which included knives, a machete, and a baton with nails sticking out of it, along with gloves and masking tape.

A third man, Brian Orr (21), of Larchfield Avenue, Glasgow, who was also in the car, was jailed for 46 months for conspiracy to rob.

He had said the intention was to carry out a robbery at a house in Busby organised by Ahmed.