An elderly couple had their home smashed up by two drunken thugs who were hunting for their grandson.
The man hid under a bed as Gary Batchelor, 32, and Barry Deick, 31, forced their way into his grandparents’ home on Harlow Place, Dundee.
The city’s sheriff court was told how the man had sent text messages to Deick bragging about sleeping with his ex-girlfriend.
Batchelor and Deick – who were 10 hours into a booze-binge – took a taxi to the address, believing the man was there with friends.
His elderly relatives – one of whom suffers from dementia – had their television, fireplace and other items destroyed by Deick and Batchelor while they threatened to kill the man.
‘A truly terrifying experience’
Batchelor was jailed after he pled guilty to committing the offence on January 21 last year.
Sheriff Paul Brown said: “You overcame the security of the complainers’ home and uttered threats to kill and damage property.
“It must have been a truly terrifying experience for the complainers and it’s great, good fortune the police arrived promptly on the scene.”
A warrant was granted for Deick’s arrest after he failed to appear in court for sentencing.
Early morning attack as elderly cowered
Fiscal depute Gavin Burton revealed how Batchelor and Deick took a taxi to the address after leaving the Balcony Bar on Ward Road in the early hours of the morning.
Deick told the driver they were “away to kick a door in” and “get” a man because he had sex with Deick’s girlfriend.
Mr Burton said: “This witness contacted the police after dropping off both accused.
“At 2.06am, the female occupant of the house was in the bedroom with her husband when she heard banging and shouting.
“She heard someone shout ‘your door’s going in if you don’t come out’.
“The male attended his grandparents’ bedroom and hid under the bed.
“The woman heard more smashing noises and shouting from the bedroom.”
The man and his grandparents stayed in a bedroom as Batchelor and Deick broke another bedroom’s window and entered the property.
Residents ‘extremely shaken’
Police attended with a dog handler and found Deick and Batchelor.
They were arrested in a struggle after they tried to lock police out and the dog bit Batchelor on the arm.
The man and his grandparents were “extremely shaken”
Windows, a television, a fireplace and a mirror were all damaged in the living room.
Batchelor, of St Ninian Terrace, and Deick, of Dunmore Street, previously pled guilty to forcing entry to the property on January 21, 2020 intending to assault a male occupant.
Solicitor John Boyle said drunk Batchelor, a convicted drug dealer, had little recollection of the incident and did not anticipate that the man’s grandparents would be in the property.
He was sentenced to 18 months in prison.