A Dundee thug has been jailed for a “terrifying” assault on his 82-year-old neighbour during a robbery at his home.
Jason Forrest fought his way into the pensioner’s house, wrestled him to the ground and kneeled across his chest.
When a concerned neighbour ran in, the pensioner told her: “I think I’m having a heart attack.”
Forrest appeared at Perth Sheriff Court and admitted the assault and robbery at his victim’s Balunie Avenue home on August 11 2021.
Ten years ago, Forrest was jailed for an eerily similar attack on 85-year-old Dundee grandmother Catherine Henderson.
‘It must have been terrifying’
Sheriff William Wood told Forrest: “Clearly this was an appalling incident.
“It must have been been particularly frightening for this elderly gentleman who was simply minding his own business in his own home.
“It must have been terrifying.”
“In light of your record, only a custodial sentence is inevitable.”
Forrest, listed as a prisoner at HMP Perth, was jailed for 10 months.
The sentence was reduced from three years after the court heard he has already spent the equivalent of a two-year sentence on remand.
Witnessed by concerned neighbour
Fiscal depute Sarah Wilkinson told the court: “At the time, the accused had been living in Balunie Avenue for only a few months.
“The complainer had been at his home address, a neighbouring property, for a number of years.
“Although living in the same street, they did not know each other and had never been in contact before.”
She said the neighbour answered his front door at around 3.30pm on August 11 2021.
“He was greeted by the accused, who was already standing on the top doorstep.
“He forced entry, pushing the complainer into the hall.”
The court heard the incident was witnessed by a resident across the street.
“The witness was within her living room when she was informed by family members that a male was currently at the complainer’s front door,” the fiscal depute said.
“She was concerned and looked out the window. She observed the accused attempting to physically force his way into the property.
“The accused and the complainer struggled. The complainer fell backwards, landing on his back.
“The accused then knelt across his chest with the intention of keeping him on the ground.”
Forrest told his victim: “Relax, calm down.”
Victim was ‘extremely distressed’
Ms Wilkinson said the witness crossed the street to the pensioner’s home, after seeing Forrest disappear inside.
“She got no reply to knocking or shouting.
“Due to this, she entered the property where she observed the accused and saw the complainer who was in an extremely distressed state.”
The man told her: “I think I’m having a heart attack.”
Forrest was seen walking into the kitchen for a glass of a water.
“He took a watch belonging to the complainer,” said Ms Wilkinson.
Police descended on the house and Forrest was arrested.
“A door handle from the complainer’s door was found in his pocket,” the fiscal depute said.
The stolen watch was later recovered from Forrest’s home.
No sleep, heavy drinking
Solicitor Anika Jethwa, defending, said: “He understands his behaviour was bizarre and he was unable to explain it.
“His mental health had been poor leading up to this offence.”
Forrest suffered a “significant and traumatic” head injury after falling off scaffolding in 2012, Ms Jethwa told the court.
“In the lead-up to this offence, he had had a very bad break-up with his partner.
“He was devastated and struggling to cope with that.
“He tells me he was walking the streets at night, hadn’t slept and was drinking to excess.”
Ms Jethwa added: “He is aware his conduct is extremely serious, especially in light of his record. He is deeply ashamed and embarrassed.
“He knows that no matter what is going on in his life, there is no excuse to behave in this manner. He is horrified by his own actions.”
Violent history
Forrest is serving a four-year sentence for a serious assault at a Fife pub.
In Februrary 2012, he was jailed for five years and six months at the High Court in Edinburgh for battering Ms Henderson during a robbery at her Stirling Street flat.
The judge condemned the incident as an “utterly cowardly and vicious attack“.
The court heard during the assault the victim, who had been getting ready for bed, pleaded with Forrest: “Don’t you think you have done enough to me?”
At the time, Ms Henderson told The Courier: “I wouldn’t wish anybody to get what I got.
“I’m more scared now than I’ve ever been.”
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