Greenock woman jailed for armed robbery at Port Glasgow shop

Eve Gillan helped Michael Glancy carry out the brazen afternoon attack at the Usave shop on Cromdale Road earlier this year and both are now behind bars.

Gillan, 30, stuffed dozens of packets of cigarettes into her bag while Glancy subjected staff to a ten-minute ordeal.

The pair also made off with around £800 in cash.

Callous Glancy, 39, destroyed a £2,500 touchscreen till by smashing it with the machete.

He was locked up for two-and-a-half years in September after being branded a 'threat to the public' by a sheriff.

Gillan insisted through her lawyer that she did not know that Glancy was armed and had no idea of what he was going to do.

Solicitor Aidan Gallagher told her sentencing hearing at Greenock Sheriff Court that Gillan didn't even know her co-accused prior to the incident.

Mr Gallagher said: "She had gone to a house party the evening before and drank to excess and also ingested valium at the party.

"The following morning she accepts she was still under the influence when she and her co-accused had gone to the shop.

"She did not know what his intention was.

"She thought the two of them had gone to the shop to buy something to eat.

"She tried to intervene. After that he removed the machete from his waistband but she did not know it was there or that he had any intention of doing what then took place."

In CCTV footage, Gillan can be seen struggling with a heavily intoxicated Glancy and taking hold of the machete.

At one point she left the store briefly before re-entering with her hood up to continue the assault.

Eve Gillan (Image: Facebook)

The terrifying raid, which took place at around 2pm on April 8, was captured by security cameras.

Glancy's solicitor told his sentencing hearing that the 'absolutely shocking piece of footage' was 'only surpassed by the level of shock and psychological damage to the shopkeepers'.

Lawyer Amy Spencer added: "It is but for the grace of God that no physical injuries were caused."

READ MORE: Brazen thug jailed for daylight robbery with machete at Port Glasgow store

Solicitor Mr Gallagher said Gillan was 'encouraged' by Glancy to load the loot into her bag and the situation 'evolved'.

Mr Gallagher added: "In sobriety she would have taken herself away. Whilst she has not effectively done much there is still a bit part played but it is very much a lesser role.

"There is a realisation of the impact this would've had on the shopkeeper.

"It is a matter of great regret that she involved herself in whatever way in this matter.

Machete-wielding Michael Glancy stole hundreds in cash and cigarettes and caused thousands of pounds of damage in a daylight robbery at the Cromdale Road Usave store in Port Glasgow (Image: Crown Office)

"She appears to have been caught up in what was started by her co-accused."

Being on the cusp of custody, Mr Gallagher said, filled Gillan with 'absolute terror'.

Referring to her 'very limited' criminal record, he argued 'there is enough here to allow her liberty'.

However, Sheriff James Varney disagreed and told Gillan: "There can be absolutely no doubt in this case that this was a very serious assault and robbery and you had a part to play in that and I have taken a very dim view of your part.

"I simply don't understand why you left the shop that day and returned with your hood up and everything that occurred after that.

Michael Glancy (Image: Facebook)

"There is no other way of dealing with you other than by imposing a period of imprisonment."

Gillan, of Paton Street, was sentenced to 14 months imprisonment.

Co-accused Glancy was given a backdated two-and-a-half-year prison sentence in September which includes a 15-month supervised release order.