TWO men who threatened to cut out another man’s eye during a brutal assault and robbery have been jailed at Dundee Sheriff Court.
Dale Reidie, 34, of Spey Drive, and Mark Nelson, 35, of Crichton Street, were both jailed for their part in the assault and robbery of another man, Graeme Rankin.
The court heard that whilst acting together, the pair attacked Mr Rankin within a flat on Seafield Road.
They grabbed him, pushed him onto a bed and repeatedly punched and kicked him before choking him.
Reidie and Nelson then presented a “sharp instrument” at Mr Rankin and threatened to cut out his eye.
A trial at Dundee Sheriff Court heard the pair were looking to steal cash, drugs and a mobile phone battery.
The jury heard they searched through Mr Rankin’s property and demanded he hand over drugs. The pair then began overturning furniture and ordered Mr Rankin into the living room.
They then pushed Mr Rankin onto a settee, presented a pair of wire cutters at him and threatened to cut off a finger.
And they boiled a kettle of water and sugar in his presence — which can cause intensive burns if poured directly onto skin — before jumping onto him and overturning the settee.
Nelson previously pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting Mr Rankin and robbing him of a quantity of diazepam, cash and a mobile phone battery, within a property on Seafield Road, on November 22 2013.
However, Reidie had denied the same charge, for which he was co-accused. He was convicted of the offence after a jury found him guilty.
Solicitor Nicola Brown, defending Reidie, said: “He appears to be a changed man since this offence.
“His reaction when he saw himself in his police interview was abject horror. He was thoroughly embarrassed about what he had done.”
On behalf of Nelson, solicitor Gary McIlravey, defending, said: “There had been no intention to proceed in the way things transpired. He can’t shy away from the fact this is a serious matter.”
Sheriff Alistair Carmichael jailed Reidie for 18 months and Nelson for 15 months.
Both Nelson and Reidie will be subject to a six month supervised release order following their prison sentences.
This article originally appeared on the Evening Telegraph website. For more information, read about our new combined website.