A serial criminal who helped tie up and rob two terrified teenagers in their home has been jailed for four and a half years.
Robert Anderson, 65, teamed up with an accomplice to raid the house in Baillieston, Glasgow days before Christmas last year.
A 16-year-old girl and her 13-year-old brother were at home while their parents were at work.
The children were told: “I will kill your family. Your mum and dad are tied up at the shop.”
The girl had been on a Facetime call before the intruders burst in and her friend overheard what was happening and got help.
Anderson was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow having earlier admitted to a charge of assault and robbery.
He already had a lengthy criminal record including for similar offences as well as for firearms and crimes of dishonesty.
Anderson was locked up for six years in 2013 for a string of robberies on elderly victims after he impersonated a police officer.
Lord Scott paid tribute to the 16-year-old girl in the latest offence for bravely tackling Anderson that day.
The judge said: “The threats made to (the children) about their parents – even if untrue – must have made an already terrifying experience all the more horrific.
“They would have thought they were trapped with violent raiders and there being no hope of intervention.
“It is no credit to you at all that, while her brother was still tied up, the girl displayed a remarkable display of fortitude to free herself and strike you with a stick.”
Anderson, latterly of Larkhall, Lanarkshire, will be supervised for a further three years on his release.
An earlier hearing was told how a masked Anderson and an unknown male accomplice – both wearing gloves – barged into the house and locked the door last December 18.
The pair stated: “Where’s the safe, where’s the money, don’t move, sit down or else.”
The second man grabbed a pair of scissors and threatened to kill the children and their family.
The young victims were dragged into the living room and had their arms and legs bound with wire, Christmas tree lights and a school tie.
The teenagers stated there was no safe, but handed over £65 of their own cash in a bid to get them to leave.
But, the robbers still ransacked the property looking for more loot.
Prosecutor Leigh Lawrie said: “Unknown to the men, the (girl’s friend) remained on the video call and heard the threats being made.
“He alerted his father and mother who also overheard what was happening.
“They contacted the police as well as the victims’ parents.”
The friend’s mum and dad raced to the house and could hear the victims yelling for help.
Ms Lawrie added: “The girl shouted that the men were going out the backdoor and at this point she was able to free herself.
“She picked up a wooden stick and hit Anderson over the head.”
The thugs escaped before police arrived. They stole jewellery as well as the cash.
But, Anderson was soon traced near the scene and arrested. The whereabouts of his accomplice is still unknown.
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