A man who tried to rob a shop in New Cumnock left empty-handed after the staff member behind the counter told him “there’s no money, on you go”.

Callum McCracken carried out the terrifying attack at Premier Stores in Castle while armed with a knife.

The 31-year-old will be sentenced later this year after he pleaded guilty to assaulting the female employee by brandishing a knife at her and demanding that she hand over money.

The procurator fiscal depute told a hearing at Ayr Sheriff Court: “A 57-year-old woman was working at the convenience store.

“At 8pm she could see Callum McCracken enter the store. He said ‘give me the money’.

“She replied ‘there is no money, on you go’.

“He replied ‘stupid f*****g woman’. He stood there with the knife for a couple of seconds while she held her mobile phone in her hand.

“Then he simply walks out the shop.

“The woman gave a statement consistent with what we have seen on CCTV.”

The incident happened on the evening of January 22, 2023.

McCracken, of Brunton Place, had also been accused of attempting to pervert the course of justice by discarding his outer clothing at the nearby Afton Bridge in a bid to change his appearance.

But his plea of not guilty to that charge was accepted by prosecutors.

Co-accused Connor Murray had been accused of being involved in the robbery incident by acting as a lookout for McCracken, but a jury found him not guilty.

Mr Murray, of Cairnhill Place, had also been accused of assaulting a woman by grabbing her around the neck at a footpath on Dalhanna Drive on the same date, but the jury returned a verdict of not proven.

McCracken’s solicitor, John Gallagher, told Sheriff Mhairi MacTaggart: "He has been on bail since February 27. The man before you today is significantly changed, and a different man from when he appeared from custody.

"In the time spent on remand, and since being released, he has been completely abstinent from illicit substances and hasno other matters outstanding.

"He has managed to keep away from the locus.”

Sentence was deferred for criminal justice social work reports.

Sheriff MacTaggart asked Mr Gallagher to remind McCracken "of the serious situation he is in".

Addressing McCracken directly, she added: "You can stay on bail today, but I'm not making any promises."

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service declined requests from the Chronicle to release CCTV images shown in court last week until after sentencing.