Drunken Thug Callum Bradley Admits Robbing Coatbridge Shopkeeper of Lottery Scratchcards

COATBRIDGE, North Lanarkshire — A shopkeeper was subjected to a frightening robbery in his own store after a drunken customer turned violent over scratchcards, Airdrie Sheriff Court has heard.

The incident occurred on August 30, 2025, at the USave convenience store located on Woodside Street in Coatbridge. The perpetrator, 26-year-old Callum Bradley, entered the shop while heavily under the influence of alcohol. Bradley initially requested that the shopkeeper, Zubair Akhtar, call a taxi for him. When Mr. Akhtar declined, Bradley waited for another customer to leave the store before making his move.

Bradley approached the counter and grabbed a stand containing lottery scratchcards. A physical struggle ensued between Bradley and the shopkeeper as Mr. Akhtar bravely tried to defend his shop. Bradley managed to rip three lottery scratchcards from the display and fled the premises on foot.

Police Scotland officers responded quickly to the distress call, locating and detaining Bradley a short distance away on Woodside Street. Upon his arrest, Bradley became highly aggressive, shouting abuse and making violent threats towards the officers.

In court, Bradley pleaded guilty to charges of assault and robbery, as well as behaving in a threatening and abusive manner towards police officers. His defense solicitor argued that the offense was at the "bottom end of the scale" for robbery, noting that Bradley's behavior was fueled by alcohol. Sheriff Joseph Hughes deferred sentencing for background reports and to assess Bradley's suitability for an electronic monitoring tag.