A serial criminal who helped carry out a terrifying late-night raid at the home of a Fife pensioner has been jailed for more than five years.
Anthony Hogan and four masked accomplices targeted the house of 80-year-old Marion Campbell in Gowkhall, Dunfermline, on February 22, 2019.
The brave OAP, who lived alone, managed to dial 999 as the robbers ransacked the property, bagging a haul of jewellery.
The mob fled but DNA helped link Hogan to the crime.
He has been locked up for five years and two months.
The 39 year-old was finally brought to justice having gone AWOL for two previous court dates.
He had pled guilty last month to a charge of assault and robbery.
Repeatedly demanded money
The High Court in Glasgow heard how the gang had initially tried to get into the house through a Velux window on the roof at around midnight.
They eventually forced in a back door and one of them grabbed Miss Campbell, who was at the bottom of her stairs.
Prosecutor Bill McVicar said: “She was told to remain in the kitchen.
“She was then repeatedly asked where the money was.
“She repeatedly told them there was nothing.”
The gang eventually got into a large steel chest which contained jewellery.
The victim was left alone in the hall and took the chance to grab her for phone for help.
Dialled 999
Mr McVicar: “She contacted 999…she was able to report the incident and spoke to an operator for a prolonged period of time.
“The woman was clearly distressed and male voices can be heard in the background.
“One of the assailants attempted to get the phone from Miss Campbell, who continued to relay events.”
The raiders fled the scene before police arrived.
Officers found the house ransacked and damaged.
Items stolen included gold necklaces, rings and brooches.
Hogan was held in June 2019 after DNA, mobile phone and CCTV evidence pinned him to the robbery.
It emerged he has already served a string of jail terms including for importing drugs, crimes of dishonesty and possession of a knife.
Lord Armstrong cut the sentence from seven years due to the guilty plea and time Hogan had already spent in custody.
