A DRUNK phoned the police from a petrol station to warn them he was about to rob it.

However, Steven McLean, 29, had no intention of carrying out his threat and instead used the tactic to get himself arrested.

It was around 11pm when a female worker within the Shell garage on Edinburgh Road in Baillieston spotted the accused loitering and acting suspiciously. He appeared to be under the influence of alcohol.

McLean asked to use the phone, before handing the receiver over to the cashier and stating: "It's the polis. Tell them I'm going to rob the shop."

At Glasgow Sheriff Court, the accused pleaded guilty to uttering threats to the cashier and police call handler on January 6 this year.

In defence, it was highlighted that McLean was intoxicated and had wanted to be detained. Although he had no intention of causing any harm, he accepted his comments would have been disturbing. His lawyer claimed that the accused's offending was directly linked to his alcohol abuse.

Sheriff Gerard Bonnar referred the case to the alcohol court. McLean, of Barlanark Road, will return for sentencing on May 14.