Knife thug caught after dropping mobile phone at victim’s house

A THUG who threatened a householder with a knife was caught after police traced him from the mobile phone that he dropped in his victim’s house.

Scott Smith, 21, dropped his phone whilst trying to rob terrified Jordan Bennett in his home in Edinburgh’s Kings Road.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard how Smith and another man broke into Mr Bennett’s home on May 13 this year.

Smith threatened Mr Bennett, who has mild learning difficulties, with a knife so he could extort cash from him.

But Mr Bennett started struggling with Smith and sustained cuts to his left hand.

The court heard that during the confrontation, Smith dropped his mobile phone. Detectives later found the mobile phone and discovered that the item was registered to the apprentice plumber.

However, officers were unable to arrest Smith immediately. He went on to to break into Bernadette Barrett’s house in the city’s Craigour Road.

As well as threatening Bernadette with a knife, he also threatened her friend Julie Anne McMillan, who was five months pregnant, with the blade.

He was arrested shortly afterwards by police and taken into custody.

The story emerged today following a hearing in which Smith, formerly of Mountcastle Drive South, Edinburgh, pleaded guilty to two charges of hamesucken before judge Lord Uist.

Lord Uist deferred sentence on Smith, who has previous convictions, in order for the court to obtain reports about his character.

He will be sentenced on Friday December 7, at the High Court in Edinburgh.