Drug user gets jail for attacking man of 90

A DRUG user who attacked and robbed a frail 90-year-old man, leaving him in hospital, has been jailed for five years.

A judge told Elroy McArthur that the victim's quality of life had been "severely diminished" since the assault.

McArthur, 32, got into a conversation with John Purves at a stair door in Lorne Street, Edinburgh, but the pensioner immediately became aware of him reaching into his trouser pocket and trying to steal his wallet.

The robber managed to get the wallet after tussling with his victim, who was pushed. The attacker made off but Mr Purves fell to the ground, fracturing his shoulder and ribs, following the assault in July last year.

McArthur had also struck nine days earlier when he attacked a 19-year-old shopworker, brandished a knife and robbed her of 159.

McArthur, who has a long criminal record for theft and burglary, committed both the offences while on bail after he was freed by a sheriff in March.

Lord Kinclaven told him at the High Court in Edinburgh: "There is no alternative to a significant custodial sentence. No other method of dealing with you is appropriate."

The judge also ordered that McArthur should be kept under supervision for a further two years.

Defence solicitor advocate George Pollock said McArthur had expressed "appropriate remorse" and recognised the consequences of his behaviour, particularly for his elderly victim.