Three thugs have been found guilty of attempting to murder a north-east man with an axe during a horrific attack in his own home.
Brandon Wilson, Brandon Douglas and Martin Gemmell were yesterday convicted of breaking into Allan Roy’s home in Sandhaven and launching an axe attack which left him “severely injured and permanently disfigured” before stealing a games console and two mobile phones.
Gemmell and Wilson were also accused of breaking into the home of Scott Thomson in Boddam on the same day and attacking him with knives..
The pair were found unanimously guilty of the Boddam attack, while all three men were found guilty by majority in relation to the attack on Mr Roy.
It took the jury at the High Court in Aberdeen about four hours to reach the verdicts.
Friends of the men cried in the public gallery as the verdict was read out, while the three accused remained expressionless.
As he was led out in handcuffs, Wilson collapsed to the floor with a loud thud after fainting.
After the trio left the room, judge Lord Mulholland praised jurors for their work during the “emotional” trial.
He said: “Invading someone’s home, assaulting them, robbing them and attempting to murder them is a very serious matter.
“This must have been very emotional for the people affected. I hope you can go on with your lives and put this out of your minds.”
During the case, the court heard from various witnesses to the crimes, a forensic scientist, police officers and Mr Roy.
A police officer read out a statement taken from the victim in the immediate aftermath of the assault.
Mr Roy told investigators he thought he was “seriously hurt” after receiving a heavy blow from the “butt end” of the axe as he “could hear his lung making a gargling sound”.
He told officers he was chased through his house by his attackers and locked himself in his bathroom, before the door was broken down with the axe and he was “dragged” out.
In a second statement, made five months after the incident, he described the long-term impact of his ordeal.
He said: “I now walk with crutches and I have been told I need a hip replacement.
“This incident has had a big impact on my life.
“I’m scared of something like this happening again to me or my family.”
On Monday, forensic scientist Andrew Gibb explained how a balaclava, kitchen knife and hunting knife had been recovered from various homes belonging to the accused.
The items bore their DNA, while a jacket recovered had blood and DNA which matched both Wilson, 22, and Mr Roy’s blood.
After the verdict was read out, the prosecution revealed the criminal past of each of the accused.
The jury was told that Douglas, 18, had previous convictions for assaults to injury – which included assaults with a stun gun and metal bar.
They heard that Gemmel, 22, had previously received a fine for possession of cocaine.
Wilson’s record, which was described as “lengthy” by advocate depute Alan Cameron, included various assaults and a theft by housebreaking charge.
The trio, who were remanded in custody, will be sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow next month.
