QC's terror as gang wielding meat cleaver raided his home

A PROMINENT defence QC was threatened by a teenager wielding a meat cleaver during a burglary at his home, a court heard yesterday.

Ian Duguid, 55, and his wife, Elaine, 52, heard voices downstairs in their terraced home in the Murrayfield area of Edinburgh late at night, and he went to investigate while she telephoned the police.

Two teenagers threatened Mr Duguid with a knife and a meat cleaver and fled with 3,000 worth of property. They and an accomplice were caught minutes later, after a police vehicle smashed into their getaway car.

Alexander Stevens, 19, of Clermiston Hill, Edinburgh, who was on no fewer than seven bail orders, and Jordan Demarco, 18, of Crewe Place, Edinburgh, admittted assaulting Mr Duguid and robbing him of car keys on 18 October last year.

The pair, along with Frankie Gilmour, 21, of Craigmount Brae, Edinburgh, who was also on bail at the time, pleaded guilty to breaking into the house and stealing two televisions, a camera, a laptop computer, a bottle of champagne and other items.

Gilmour further admitted stealing a car, driving with only a provisional licence and without insurance, and failing to provide samples for a breath test.

They will be sentenced next month.

Mr Duguid, who has appeared regularly representing clients in murder, rape and robbery trials in the High Court, was said to have been left shaken by his ordeal at the hands of the armed teenagers.

His wife continued to feel unsettled and would no longer stay at home on her own, the High Court in Edinburgh was told.

The couple were wakened at about 3:10am, said the advocate-depute, Gary Allan, QC.

Mr Duguid went on to the landing and, below, saw two men, dressed in hooded tops. One was carrying a television.

He switched on lights and started to make his way downstairs. He noticed that one of the men was holding a 10in knife and the other had a meat cleaver. He shouted to his wife: "They've got knives."

Demarco demanded car keys, and when Mr Duguid said there was no car, he climbed the first two steps, brandishing the meat cleaver in front of him.

Mr Duguid retreated and said the keys were in a cupboard beside the staircase.

After threatening the QC further, Demarco grabbed a key fob and fled.

As police arrived at the scene, they saw Stevens and Demarco jumping into a Kia Rio, which Gilmour had stolen earlier in the night.

The car passed the police van and headed down towards a main road.

Another police car was on its way, but it missed the turning off the main road. As it crossed the junction, however, the Kia emerged from the side road and the two vehicles collided.

The Kia filled with smoke, from the airbag functioning, and officers dragged Stevens and Demarco from the car.The driver's door had been damaged and it took longer to remove Gilmour. All had suffered minor injuries.

The stolen property was recovered, and a knife and a meat cleaver were found on the rear seat of the car.

Lord Kinclaven was told that all three accused had previous convictions for dishonesty and assault. He called for background reports and remanded them in custody until the sentencing hearing.