Six years for leaving a man for dead after attack

A MAN was jailed for six years yesterday for “battering” and leaving for dead the owner of a motorcycle who had tried to stop him stealing the bike.

Raymond Cooper, 61, had previously suffered a stroke and was at risk of having another, but intervened when he saw David Robertson, 26, and an accomplice breaking into his shed where he kept the red Honda bike.

Mr Cooper was punched to the ground and one of the thieves stamped on his head. He lay for almost two hours in the dark before being found and taken to hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery.

During his recovery from the attack, Mr Cooper, of Meadow Lane, Tillydrone, Aberdeen, suffered a serious stroke and was left severely disabled.

Prosecutors were unable to prove a link between the stroke and the assault.

Robertson, of Alexander Terrace, Aberdeen, admitted attempting to murder Mr Cooper while acting with another person, and stealing the motorbike on 9 May. He also pleaded guilty to driving the bike dangerously and while under the influence of drink or drugs the next day. He crashed into a railway bridge.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard that Mr Cooper had largely recovered from a stroke in 2006, but was vulnerable to another. He kept his motorcycle in a shed at his home, and parked his car in front of the shed.

The advocate-depute, Peter McCormack, said it had not been possible to take a statement from Mr Cooper about the incident.

“Some time after the incident, he suffered a serious stroke which has left him severely incapacitated. He has remained in care,” said Mr McCormack.

The defence counsel, Mike Smart, said: “[Robertson] accepts without reservation this was a horrific and violent attack … It was a serious crime, but one that is out of character.”

The judge, Lady Stacey, said Robertson would have been jailed for eight years but was due a discount for pleading guilty.