Pair jailed for tying up and robbing OAP

Published on Thursday 8 January 2009 23:28

TWO robbers who attacked a widowed pensioner in her home were jailed for a total of more than 13 years yesterday.

A judge told Michael Queen and Douglas McMillan: "This was a horrible crime committed on a vulnerable elderly lady living alone, leaving her injured and terrified."

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lady Dorrian told McMillan, 47: "You have at least had the humanity to express disgust with yourself, which is well merited."

McMillan, of Milburn Terrace, Irvine, had earlier admitted assaulting and robbing Mary Fisher, 77, after forcing entry to her home in an Ayrshire town in September 2007.

Queen, 36, of Aberlour Place, Irvine, was convicted after a trial of the crime against the victim, who suffers from emphysema.

The judge jailed Queen for seven years for his part in the attack and his co-accused for six years and three months. She also ordered that both men should be kept under supervision for a further three years.

During the ordeal, the victim was bound and gagged in her flat before the raiders took 2,500 and jewellery.

The court heard she had been feeling unwell and went to bed before seeing two figures walk past a window through a blind.

Her bell was rung and, as she went to the door, it was forced open and she was sent backwards, falling on the floor.

The intruders ran into the house, and one of them turned her on to her stomach and forced her hands behind her back, before she was bound with a plastic tie.

Mrs Fisher struggled to get free, but was told: "Stop struggling or we'll kill you." The victim replied, "Well, kill away" and continued to struggle. She asked for her nebuliser and was given the spray, but could not use it because her hands were tied.

One of the robbers kept asking her about a safe, but she denied having one and shouted for help.

Tape was put in and over her mouth, but then removed.

The victim asked to go to the bathroom and was dragged along the floor to the room.

She managed to free one hand from the plastic tie, but another was used to truss her again.

When Mrs Fisher emerged from the bathroom she saw that the raiders were gone and that a safe in her home had been stolen.

She called the police and was taken to hospital and found to have bruising and tenderness.

A witness saw two men in the area carrying a holdall type bag, which appeared to be heavy and later picked out McMillan at an identity parade as resembling one of them.