Couple were terrorised in own home by bungling robbery gang

A MASKED gang tied up an innocent couple and dragged one of them into a river in a terrifying ordeal during a bungled robbery at a salvage yard, a court has heard.

Gordon Forbes, 57, had a plastic bag forced over his head before being dragged by his bound wrists and ankles and dumped in the River Almond.

His partner Annabelle Hutchison, 59, was also bound with electrical cables and was forced to watch as one of the balaclava-clad gang held a knife at her cat's throat.

She was made to watch as her partner was bundled out of the cabin where they live and shoved down the banking into the freezing water of the river.

The gang had mistakenly believed the couple, who lived in the cabin within the Dalcrue Auto Salvage yard, owned the business and kept large sums of money on site.

But after taking the couple hostage for an hour, they eventually realised there was no money, and one of the masked men was heard saying: "This was a f*** up."

At Perth Sheriff Court yesterday, Brian Blair, 50, of Maryhill, Glasgow, was remanded in custody after he admitted being one of the masked trio.

He admitted attacking Ms Hutchison, 59, and Mr Forbes, 57, by brandishing a hammer at them, tying both up by the wrists and ankles and dragging them around the cabin in Pitcairngreen, Perthshire, on 17 November, 2009.

His financial adviser brother Thomas Blair, 47, of Wyndford Road, Glasgow, admitted resetting a mobile phone, iPod, earphones and telephone stolen during the raid.

Procurator-fiscal depute Charmaine Cole said career criminal Isaac McPhee had told the Blairs there would be a large amount of cash kept at the salvage yard.

She said the couple had nothing to do with the business. On the night in question, Mr Forbes was watching television with headphones on while his partner was reading in bed.

They were both confronted with three men wearing black masks and were immediately tied up with electrical cabling which was in the cabin.

"She looked up and saw a masked male standing at the foot of her bed. Her wrists and ankles were bound. The men demanded the couple show them where the money was," said the fiscal depute.

"A plastic bag was put over Mr Forbes' head so he was unable to see. She was dragged along the floor of the kitchen. Brian Blair momentarily pulled up his balaclava and she was able to catch glimpse of his face.

"Mr Forbes was struck on the head with a blunt object. The men seized hold of him and dragged him out to the riverbank.The bag fell off and he was left sitting in the river.

"The men were heard to say 'This was a f*** up'."

The court heard how Brian Blair retrieved angina medication for Ms Hutchison, who had suffered heart problems, after she pleaded with him and told him where it was.

Miss Cole said Thomas Blair had driven his brother to the area after McPhee had given them the tip-off about money being stored within the remote yard. The gang stole a few items before driving off in the couple's car.

The brothers will be sentenced next month.