iStockA serial robber who targeted the elderly is back behind bars after leaving his latest victim too frightened to return to her home.
Thomas Gilheaney had only been freed early from jail weeks before when he turned up at the door of the 83-year-old woman’s home in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire last October 23.
The 41-year-old conman insisted he was there as he was still owed money for a minor roof repair he had carried out at the property.
He had instead already been paid £50 by the pensioner’s son.
Prosecutor Lindsey Dalziel told the High Court in Glasgow: “He said he wanted money and demanded to know where her purse was.
“He barged in through the front door, grabbed her by the arm and went upstairs.
“He told her he would leave if she gave him £20. He dragged her into the living room and wanted to know where her money was.”
Gilheaney went into a bedroom. The victim took the opportunity to try and call for help, but the robber spotted her and snatched the phone.
He found the purse in the kitchen – it contained around £60, loose change and her bank cards.
Gilheaney then fled. The OAP also realised he had stolen her mobile.
The shaken woman contacted police on her landline.
Ms Dalziel said: “When officers attended, they found her distressed and terrified, hiding behind her front door.”
The woman was left bruised by her ordeal.
But, the advocate depute added: “After the incident, the woman went to live with family as she was too afraid to return to her home, where she had lived for 50 years.”
Gilheaney was identified from a neighbour’s doorbell camera which put him at the scene. His DNA was also found at the flat.
He pled guilty to a charge of assault and robbery on Tuesday.
Gilheaney already had almost 30 groups of convictions in Scotland and England.
He had previously been jailed 19 times, including for copycat crimes.
In 2010, Gilheaney was imprisoned for five and a half years for attacking and robbing an 86-year-old man in his home in Kilmarnock.
He was back at the high court in 2019 for targeting a 79-year-old woman, who bravely fought back during the raid at her property in nearby Stewarton.
Gilheaney was sentenced to five years and wrote a letter for the judge promising to stay out of trouble.
The court heard on Tuesday that Gilheaney was also on bail at the time of the latest offence.
Gillian Ross KC, defending, said Gilheaney had been drinking that day and wrongly believed he was still owed money by the woman.
Lord Arthurson jailed him for five and a half years.
The judge said: “This was a despicable and targeted crime of violence against a highly vulnerable 83-year-old lady in her own home.”
Gilheaney is also banned from approaching or contacting the victim for an indefinite period.
Follow STV News on WhatsApp
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
