Marypark Post Office raider escapes prison
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A MOTHER of four who tried to stage an armed robbery at a Moray post office, just weeks after giving birth to her youngest child, has avoided a jail sentence.
Cindy Bothwell was told she would have to leave the home she was sharing with her family if he rent was not paid.
Bothwell (33) fled empty handed from the post office premises after she was told: "You’ll get nae money here".
When Bothwell was later interviewed by police she said she went to the sub-post office "to get money to pay the rent".
At the High Court in Perth on Tuesday, Bothwell was placed on probation for two years.
Unemployed Bothwell had previously admitted assaulting grandmother Dorothy Munro and attempting to rob her at the Post Office at Denhead Terrace, Marypark, Ballindalloch, on July 6 last year while holding a knife and with her face masked.
The court heard that the 64-year-old victim was left feeling nervous about strangers and had taken security measures that she had not felt the need to do in more than 31 years of running the business in the small community.
The youngest of Bothwell’s children was only 14 weeks old. She and her family had moved into a tenancy at 110 High Street, Aberlour, the previous month.
Bothwell was holding a knife in her right hand and a plastic bag in the other. She also had what appeared to be a pair of tights pulled down over her head and had donned a black hat.
Mr Munro (69) picked up a vacuum cleaner and ran at her shouting: "You’ll get nae money here". Bothwell ran out and got into a vehicle.
Police were called and one of the officers recognised the description of the accused. She was traced and agreed to allow a search of her people carrier. She indicated that there was a knife in it which she had recently found. Officers found the knife, which had a six inch blade.
Bothwell told police that she could not remember her actions but did recall being outside a post office with a knife. She later added that she went to the post office to get money for the rent.
Lady Clark of Calton said although an offence of this kind would normally attract a custodial sentence, she said given Bothwell’s circumstances she did not consider the public needed protecting from her.
