Thieves took bag and late husband's wedding band from pensioner

Two thieves took a bag from a pensioner which contained her late wedding handbag for brides wedding band. Jer McLaren, 31, and Michael Kennedy, 23, targeted Sally Ormiston at Harrison Road, Edinburgh, on May 16, 2012. Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard on Wed how the pair greeted Mrs Ormiston and asked her for the time. They then grabbed her bag which caused her to fall over. The pair made off with Mrs Ormiston's bag, which contained £124 and her late second half's ring which was etched with both their initials. Both McLaren and Kennedy pleaded guilty to a stringed of robber, assault and breach of the peace charges before Sheriff James Scott. They appeared in the dock alongside Catherine Strachan, 50, who also served alongside them in many of the muggings which targeted elderly, vulnerable and impaired people. The court heard the trio committed a number of muggings between May 1 and May 15 this year in Edinburgh. Depute procurator monetary Karon Rollo told the court the pair stopped Mrs Ormiston on Harrison Road, Edinburgh and asked her for the time and for the money before getting hold of her bag. She chop down over and they made off with the bag. The court also heard the offences began on May 1 when McLaren targeted 85-year-old Agnes Lamb in Edinburgh's Valleyfield Street.



 He pulled on her bag, broke the connectors and took the purse which contained £140. On May 11, McLaren and Strachan targeted 81-year-old Anthony Strachan, who was using his zimmer frame to get along Dalry Road in Edinburgh. They pushed him against a wall, gripped him by the body and restrained him before taking £80 of cash. The following day Strachan targeted Douglas Ferguson, who suffers from epilepsy. She pushed into his house in Stenhouse Drive, Edinburgh, forced him to sit down and took £170 from him. On May 14, Kennedy and Strachan gained access to John Harrison's home at Duart Crescent, and robbed £20 from him. Before taking the money, they restrained him by his arms whilst he sat in his wheelchair. On May 15 Kennedy and Strachan then picked on Celebral Palsy person Gordon McGregor. They saw him carrying shopping bags in Gorgie Road, Edinburgh and told her i would carry them for him. They then took the bags to Mr McGregor's house in Wardlaw Place before they restrained him, searched his pockets and robbed him of £10. For a passing fancy day at Balgreen Park, Edinburgh, McLaren and Kennedy committed a breach of the peace by targeting May Rule, 80. The pair followed the pensioner and asked her for the money, placing her in a state of fear and alarm.