A serial criminal who targets elderly women killed a pensioner after getting into her home by pretending to be a postman.
Martin Stewart shoved Margaret Grant after stealing cash and ransacking the 79-year-old’s flat in Restalrig Circus in Edinburgh on January 24, 2020.
The pensioner suffered a heart attack as a result of her ordeal and died in hospital.
Stewart returned to the High Court in Glasgow on Thursday having earlier pled guilty to a culpable homicide charge .
It emerged at the previous hearing the 41 year-old had been freed eight months into a two-year sentence for robbing another elderly woman when he struck.
Stewart was not sentenced on Thursday and instead judge Lady Stacey ordered a full risk assessment be carried out on him.
This could eventually lead to an Order for Lifelong Restriction being imposed on the killer, who had 18 previous convictions.
He will return to the dock in March next year.
The court heard last month how Ms Grant lived alone, was virtually housebound and needed carers three times a week.
Stewart turned up at Ms Grant’s ground floor flat around 6pm on the night of the killing.
Prosecutor Greg Farrell said: “He induced her to let him in by pretending to be a postman with a parcel for her.
“Once inside, he grabbed Ms Grant by her dressing gown and demanded money.
“She told him she only had £15 in her glasses case. He called her a liar and then searched the flat.”
He pocketed the £15 as well as the £200 Margaret kept in a charity tin.
Stewart also rifled through Ms Grant’s handbag as she then told him she was going to get help.
But, he grabbed her again and threw the 4ft pensioner to the ground.
Ms Grant’s carer came to her rescue and Stewart ran off – but his DNA was left at the scene as well as his fingerprints on a Christmas card.
Ms Grant – who already had a number of medical issues – was taken to hospital.
She was initially able to talk freely, but her condition got worse and she passed away that night in hospital.
A medical consultant concluded the pensioner had suffered a “major heart attack” as a result of “acute and severe stress” from what happened.
Stewart was eventually arrested, but only after he had targeted other properties in the capital where pensioners lived.
Follow STV News on WhatsApp
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
