A man has been jailed following the armed robbery of a convenience store in Edinburgh.

David Taylor was sentenced to four years and eight months in prison at the Sheriff Court in Edinburgh today for robbery and the possession of a firearm.

Taylor, 43, entered the Scotmid store in Walter Scott Avenue and after asking for some tobacco he pointed a weapon at a male member of staff before stealing several hundred pounds in cash and the tobacco.

An extensive police investigation was launched, led by CID detectives and included an appeal for witnesses. Taylor was subsequently arrested and charged.

Detective Inspector Clark Martin of Gayfield CID said: “This was a very frightening experience for the shop worker and while he was uninjured during the robbery, the incident left him extremely shaken and upset.

“As a result of our appeal for witnesses Taylor was apprehended. I would like to thank everyone who responded to our media appeal.

His sentence reflects the commitment of Police Scotland to use all the resources at our disposal to identify those who carry weapons and remove them from our communities.

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John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.