Toy shop shuts after owner's robbery ordeal

Gillian Stuart, 58, who suffers from a rare blood condition, was cut and bruised during a desperate struggle with Paul Fegan, who was later found sobbing in the grounds of a nearby convent.

Tearful Fegan, 31, phoned his boyfriend to say: "I've been caught and I done it for you. This is all your fault – I've been nicked."

He also told the men who had chased him from the Capital's Creme de la Creche shop in Lauriston Place: "You don't know what it's like having a fiancee and the pressure I am under."

But as Fegan was jailed for 75 months yesterday, no further explanation was offered.

Defence advocate Ronnie Renucci simply told the High Court in Edinburgh: "He was in a relationship which was causing him some stress."

Mr Renucci said Fegan could not remember anything about the incident on 17 December because he was suffering a blackout brought on by the use of a drug called GBL, previously sold for cleaning metal and removing glue.

A victim impact statement handed to judge Lord Brailsford told how Ms Stuart had been diagnosed as suffering from post traumatic stress disorder.

Formerly outgoing and sociable, she was now too scared to go out on her own.

Advocate depute Morag Jack said: "She has now given up the shop as she cannot go back to it. As a result she is now unemployed."

Casual bar worker Fegan, of New Arthur Place, Edinburgh, pleaded guilty to assault and robbery. The court heard he had a record for similar offences and a previous conviction for indecent assault.