Jail for thug who carried out string of offences

A thug who robbed a partially-sighted wheelchair user at knifepoint in his own home has been jailed.

Matthew Duncan was jailed for more than four years in total after pleading guilty to a string of offences.

In one incident, on May 22 last year, he barged his way into the disabled man’s home in Aberdeen city centre and threatened him and a female helper with the blade.

The 24-year-old searched through cupboards, and even a jacket hanging on the back of the man’s wheelchair. After being traced and arrested, Duncan ended up being taken to hospital, where he kicked a nurse and tried to run away.

On March 31 this year he committed a further string of offences, which ended in police smashing the window of a stolen car and dragging Duncan out as he tried to speed away.

Fiscal depute Christy Ward told Aberdeen Sheriff Court he forced open a window of a flat on Leslie Road in Aberdeen. He then stole a pink purse with £3 in it. Later at 5am Duncan stole two wallets from a flat in Weaver Terrace before driving off in the occupant’s car. Police traced him sitting in the car on Primrosehill Drive.

Duncan, a prisoner of HMP Grampian, pleaded guilty to theft by housebreaking, theft, theft of a vehicle. dangerous driving, driving while only the holder of a provisional licence and without insurance, and breaching a bail curfew.

He also admitted assault and robbery over the incident involving the disabled man, as well as possession of a knife and assaulting a nurse.

Defence agent Tony Burgess said his client was “hopelessly lost in the world of drug addiction”.