Masked youth who attacked couple during terrifying robbery sentenced to three years

A MASKED raider who took part in a terrifying robbery on a couple in their home has been put behind bars for three years and eight months.

Dylan O’Connor donned a balaclava to invade the flat after taking a cocktail of drink and drugs but left his fingerprints on the door of the house. A judge told O’Connor, 19, at the High Court in Edinburgh: “You have pled guilty to a most serious offence and I find the account which you gave of your participation in that offence to be highly suspicious.”

Lord Turnbull told the youth he was prepared to take into account he was aged 18 at the time and he did not have previous convictions before sentencing him to detention.

O’Connor, formerly of Morar Drive, Paisley, in Renfrewshire, told police he had been pressured into taking part by two males who were unknown to him and had given him the balaclava.

He earlier admitted assaulting and robbing Bryan Hopkins and Lindsay Kelly at a house in Elm Drive, Johnstone, in Renfrewshire, on July 19 last year while acting with others.

During the attack Mr Hopkins was sprayed with a liquid that left his eyes burn- ing and was struck on the cheek with a knife. Defence solicitor advocate Christopher McKenna said O’Connor was unable to recollect details of the crime or how he came to be involved.