Man held elderly woman at gunpoint during robbery at her home

A former master’s student who held an elderly woman at gunpoint in her home has been jailed for four years.

Chirag Solanki broke into the property in Thorntonhall, Lanarkshire, where the 83-year-old victim lived with her husband on July 6 this year.

The 27-year-old – an illegal immigrant then wanted by the Home Office – was armed with a firearm along with a five-inch knife, cable ties, duct tape, a balaclava, earplugs and mobile phones.

He had spent time living rough in nearby woods, keeping watch on the property before carrying out the raid.

Solanki was a first offender, who the High Court in Glasgow heard had a degree in physiotherapy, then obtained a master’s in the subject in the city before securing an internship at a hospital.

But he claimed to have then fallen on hard times after not getting a full-time job, leaving him with money issues.

Solanki was sentenced having pled guilty to abduction, assault and breaking into the house.

He further admitted to having an imitation firearm with intent to cause others to believe violence would be used.

Lady Anwar cut the jail term from six years due to the guilty pleas.

Solanki had been in the country on an expired student visa.

Prosecutor Natalie McCartney said a “missing marker” had been put on him by the Home Office.

The woman and her husband, also 83, had been having lunch at their home that afternoon.

The wife later went into her laundry room and became suspicious on noticing broken glass on the floor from a door panel.

She told her husband that she believed someone may have tried to break in.

He then carried out a check of the large house – and was shocked to find Solanki in a bedroom.

He was wearing a dark baseball cap and was carrying a rucksack.

The man shouted at his wife before pleading with the raider: “This is silly, just go.”

But prosecutor Ms McCartney then explained: “Solanki moved behind the woman and held a firearm against her temple with his right hand and a knife to her throat with his left hand.

“She recalls not feeling the blade make contact with her but was aware it was being held immediately against her.”

Solanki mumbled something as the desperate husband again tried to get him to leave.

He went on to force the elderly woman to go upstairs while still armed with the weapons.

Indian-born Solanki only fled when he became aware a 999 call had been made. He escaped out the front door seemingly empty-handed.

The police helicopter was deployed to try and catch him. He was traced near the scene and arrested.

He told officers: “I lost my job. I am looking for money.”

It was then that police went on to discover the weapons.

The firearm was found to be a BB-gun capable of discharging pellets, but had been painted black.

Solanki’s DNA was found on it as well as on the smashed glass at the property.

Declan O’Keefe, defending, told the court Solanki had tried to get work before the incident, could then not afford to return to his homeland and that it “beggars belief” he went on to act in such a way.

Solanki was said to have “panicked” when the couple unexpectedly returned home, and he allegedly had no plan to harm anyone.

The raider stated he had been cutting food with the kitchen knife he had when the pensioners came back.

Sentencing, Lady Anwar said the offence involved “planning and premeditation”.

She added Solanki’s claims were “implausible” that the items he had were for “survival in the woods”.

The judge: “I have read a victim impact statement – (the woman) in particular feels unsafe and anxious in her own home.

“Tragically, you have imperilled what might have been a bright future for you. Your crimes are as a result of your own conscious and deliberate decision-making.”

Solanki is set to be deported upon completing his jail term.