Two thieves donned “bestial” rubber masks to raid a care home in Fife.
Robert McCrindle and a friend entered Glenburnie Care Home in Leven and sneaked into rooms while wearing the sinister gas masks.
CCTV caught them as they tried to remain quiet, checking the rooms of sleeping residents, before stealing their valuables.
The pair made off with a handbag, watches and a cheque book.
They had earlier worn the same masks when they sneaked into a house in Leven, while its elderly owner was in bed.
As his accomplice searched that property, McCrindle sat astride the female resident and placed his knee on her head.
Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court heard the woman feared she was going to be raped and was so terrified she has since moved from her home.
‘The terror would have been substantial’
Sheriff Alistair Brown told McCrindle he was in no doubt staff and residents would have been terrified by his masked appearance, had they come across him.
The court heard the 42-year-old continues to deny the offence, despite being found guilty by a jury earlier this year.
Addressing McCrindle, who appeared in the dock in a wheelchair, Sheriff Brown told him he had been convicted of “very serious offences”.
He said: “The court saw CCTV where you and another man were in a care home dressed in a way that can only be described as very menacing.
“You were hooded, booted and dressed in black clothing.
“You were wearing something approximating a rubber gas mask – you had a bestial appearance.
“Had you been seen by the staff or residents the terror would have been substantial.
“You were checking the residents were asleep, in the (only) home they had left to them at that stage in their life, before going into their rooms.”
Sheriff Brown continued: “That is less serious than charge one, where you entered the home of a lady when she was in bed and while your accomplice went through her room you got on top of her and sat on her.
“She was distressed – so much so that she had to move home.
“You were garbed in the way I’ve already described.
“The lady thought she was about to be raped and that’s understandable.”
Jailed
McCrindle’s solicitor, Brian Gilfedder, told the court his client extended his sympathies to the victims of the offences, in a letter addressed to the sheriff.
He said: “It has to be accepted that the offences of which he was found guilty are serious ones.
“His position is that he continues to deny involvement.
“It’s accepted he has a relevant and bad criminal record.
“It’s also accepted that there’s no other way to deal with this than by a custodial sentence.
“In his letter he maintains his plea of not guilty and that he has great sympathy for the victims of these crimes.”
He added: “His mother is not keeping in good health and he’s concerned about her being alive when he gets out of prison.”
McCrindle, a prisoner at Perth, was convicted of – while acting with another – assaulting the woman at her home in Leven and stealing her mobile phone, handbag and purse on February 13 2020.
He was further convicted of breaking into the Glenburnie Care Home on the same day and stealing a number of items.
Sheriff Brown handed him an extended sentence of six years and six months. He will serve four and a half years in prison, with a further two years on licence.
