Thug who cut off hand of OAP faces life
A THUG who chopped off a disabled pensioner’s hand and put it in his mother’s freezer is facing life in jail.
Stephen Brisbane, 34, claimed he struck after being advised by former US President Barack Obama to take crystal meth.
He said he had been told it was a cure for his ‘illness’ and could be ‘extracted’ from human bones.
Brisbane attacked wheelchairbound Sandra McGowan, 64, at her flat in Dundee in February last year.
She let him in, believing he was a carer – but he turned on her and cut off her right hand before leaving her unconscious on the floor.
Miss McGowan now requires 24-hour assistance every day.
A seven-hour operation to try to reattach her hand was unsuccessful. It was found in the freezer by Brisbane’s sister, who called police.
At an earlier hearing, serial criminal Brisbane, from Dundee, pleaded guilty to assaulting Miss McGowan to her severe injury, permanent disfigurement and impairment, as well as to the danger of her life. The case was deferred for sentencing.
Yesterday, Brisbane was back in the dock at the High Court in Glasgow. Mark Stewart, QC, defending, told the court his client wanted the case concluded as soon as possible.
He urged Judge Johanna Johnston, QC, to impose an extended sentence involving a jail term and Brisbane being monitored when freed.
But she adjourned the case for a full risk assessment to be carried out. This could mean Brisbane is given an Order for Lifelong Restriction.
The judge said: ‘The nature of the offence demonstrates extreme violence. This was a catastrophic event where a vulnerable person had their life endangered.’
She noted the attack was an ‘escalation’ in Brisbane’s offending. Sentencing was deferred until August and he was remanded in custody.