Men who robbed vulnerable woman snared by CCTV footage

Thomas Lewis, 53, and James McKay, 54, have been remanded in custody and will be sentenced next month.

Men who robbed vulnerable woman snared by CCTV footage Google Maps

Two men who robbed a 56-year-old vulnerable woman of £7000 in cash from her home were caught by CCTV footage.

Thomas Lewis, 53, and James McKay, 54, whose faces were covered, entered Mary Walker’s home in Burnhead Road in Greenock, Inverclyde, on January 9 last year and robbed her.

On Tuesday at the High Court in Glasgow, Lewis admitted the assault and robbery and McKay was convicted after trial.

The court heard that detectives found CCTV of two men acting suspiciously in the street before the robbery and then leaving afterwards.

A beat cop with 20 years’ experience immediately recognised McKay on the footage.

But, during his trial McKay went into the witness box and told jurors: “It wasn’t me.”

Earlier in the trial Mrs Walker sobbed as she recalled how two robbers stole £7000 from her home.

The court heard that McKay was wearing a mask and a navy-blue baseball cap and Lewis had a scarf wrapped round his face.

She was targeted by the raiders who ordered her to be quiet after they pounced at her home.

Mrs Walker described her “scary” ordeal at the hands of the men she identified as “Tam” and “Jim”.

She said she was in her kitchen and was told to “ssh” by one of the men and was then ordered to sit down but was too “shocked” to be able to.

The victim pleaded with them to take her purse, but the robbers believed there was more cash upstairs.

Mrs Walker – whose pre-recorded evidence was played to jurors – said one man had a “full mask” on and the other was wearing gloves and a scarf.

She was shoved as she recalled trying to escape.

Prosecutor Kath Harper asked: “After you were pushed, what did you do?”

Mrs Walker replied: “I had no chance to get out. I was in the house myself. It was scary.”

After the robbers escaped with their loot, Mrs Walker went to a nearby community centre for help.

She later picked out two potential suspects after being shown photos during the police probe and said the men “looked like Tam and Jim”.

Ms Harper asked her: “Are these the two men in the photos are the ones who robbed you?”

Mary replied: “Yes.”

The court heard that when McKay was arrested he was sitting on the blue baseball cap he was seen wearing in the video footage.

McKay has previous convictions for assault and robbery and being concerned in the supply of drugs.

Judge Lord Harrower remanded both men in custody, ordered background reports on them and will sentence them on May 18 at the High Court at Paisley.

STV News is now on WhatsApp

Get all the latest news from around the country

Follow STV News
Follow STV News on WhatsApp

Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country

WhatsApp channel QR Code