Man tortured with a hammer and stripped

ATHUG who helped torture a man after he got a compensation payout has been jailed for four years. Greg Bannerman, 54, was one of three attackers who held terrified Paul Connor captive on October 21, 2017.

The other two were underworld figure James “Jasper” McCann, 50 – once branded Scotland’s most dangerous man – and his 40-year-old brother Robert McCann.

The victim was smacked with a hammer, bound, stripped and choked with wire during an ordeal lasting hours.

Paul was bundled from the flat in Glasgow’s Shettleston to another in Airdrie, Lanarkshire and only escaped by jumping out of a first-floor window.

Bannerman was sentenced after he pleaded guilty to being involved in the assault and robbery.

Lord Burns jailed him at the High Court in Glasgow and also ordered he be supervised for a further two years on his release.

James McCann was jailed for eight years and his sibling Robert for seven years in June 2019 after they were convicted of the same crime.

A reporting ban had been put on their trial until Bannerman had been dealt with. In 2016, Paul was a passenger in Robert’s car when it was involved in an accident.

Just a day before he was set Paul received more than compensation as a result injuries.

Prosecutor Lynsey MacDonald said: “He made substantial cash payments to friends and family.

“Robert McCann had expected to receive part of the payment and was unhappy that he had not received any.”

Paul ended up at the flat upon, £6600 of his in

Shettleston, where a female friend lived. His attackers were also there.

Paul was soon ordered into the bedroom, a row erupted and the McCanns demanded money.

The victim was initially punched and then repeatedly hit with a claw hammer.

Miss MacDonald: “At various times, Greg Bannerman held down Mr Connor as the McCanns assaulted him.”

One woman in the flat hid in a corner crying as Paul screamed in terror.

Bannerman was told to get something to tie up the victim and returned with black wire.

The advocate depute went on: “This went on for some hours with the McCanns repeatedly asking for money, threatening to kill Mr Connor and dispose of his body.”

The victim was stripped from the waist down as sick jibes were hurled at him.

Prosecutors also stated Paul had a syringe brandished at him with threats to inject him with “pure heroin”.

The McCanns then asked a woman there for pillow case to “put something over the wee b ****** ’s face”.

It was soon after Bannerman decided “things had gone too far” and left.

But, the McCanns continued the attack at the flat in Airdrie demanding the victim’s PIN number for his bank account.

A traumatised Paul eventually managed to flee out a window.

The court heard the victim fortunately only suffered relatively minor injuries including bruises and abrasions.

However, Miss MacDonald said he remains “scared” to go outdoors and fearful of any repercussions from his attackers.

Paul bravely testified at a trial in May 2019.

The McCanns were later convicted, but the case against Bannerman was halted at that time when he took unwell during proceedings.

Bannerman’s QC Gary Allan said he had been “frightened” of the McCanns described as being behind the attack.

Mr Allan added: “Mr Bannerman knows what he did that day was wholly wrong.”

James McCann was reportedly once associated with former gangland figures Paul Ferris and the late Tam ‘The Licensee’ McGraw.

Sibling Robert was shot at a house in Glasgow’s East End in September 2018, but a suspect was later acquitted of the murder bid.

DERELICT land in Glasgow’s East End could be the new home of six new residential flats and a hot food takeaway store.

A planning application for the space at 1042 Tollcross Road has been submitted to the city council bosses for consideration.

If successful it will include two commercial units as well as the apartments over four stories, like the buildings already situated along the street.

Neil Rothnie Architecture will provide parking for the properties to the back of the site which will be accessed through a pend on the west side.

Extra spaces will be included even though the accommodation has access to public transport. Access to the flats will be separate from the downstairs shops with dedicated areas for cycle storage and recycling bins.

A small, terraced area will be provided to the first floor which would provide a level of open area for all residents to use. The aim is to allow clothes to dry as necessary.

Juliet balconies will also be provided to the second and third floor flats and will be accessed through the living room.

In its planning statement, Neil Rothnie Architecture said: “This should be seen as an opportunity to encourage a well-considered design solution for this site.”