Two men forced their way into a stranger’s Aberdeen home, battered him with a metal pole, demanded £1,500 and threatened to chop his head off with samurai swords.
The terrified occupant of the property on Pennan Road spotted Barry Robertson, 52, and Mark Main, 36, peering through his living room window late at night.
But when he challenged them they pushed their way inside and insisted he owed them money.
He was then beaten around the head with a metal pole before the intruders grabbed the ornamental samurai swords and made chilling threats to decapitate him.
Fiscal depute Ruaridh McAlister told Aberdeen Sheriff Court the incident happened around 10.15pm on June 23 when the man spotted two strangers looking through his window.
Due to being concerned about what they were doing, the man went outside and asked them to leave.
Mr McAlister said: “He saw that Robertson was standing on a ladder and that Main had a metal bar approximately two feet in length in his possession.”
“Robertson jumped off the ladder and walked towards the complainer before pushing him a number of times in the direction of his flat door.
“The complainer went back into his flat but was followed by the two accused who also entered the flat before he could close the door.”
Ordeal lasted 20 minutes
The men pushed their victim into his living room and demanded money from him, claiming he owed them £1,500 and would get assaulted if he didn’t pay.
Mr McAlister said: “Main struck him three times to the left side of his head with the metal bar, immediately followed by striking him three times to the right side of his head and finally striking him again to the left side of his head.
“The complainer attempted to protect himself by putting his hands up to protect his head, during which he felt blood coming from his head.
“Main repeatedly struck him across the body and arms, whilst they continued their demands for money.”
For around 20 minutes they remained in the flat, making demands and threatening to steal items from him, with Robertson taking a watch off his wrist.
The man was then marched into his bedroom where Robertson and Main continued to strike him to the body and arms and demand cash.
Mr McAlister said: “During this assault, the accused each picked up an ornamental samurai sword from the bedroom.
Police found victim covered in blood
“Whilst in possession of a samurai sword, Robertson prodded the complainer in the body repeatedly with it and threatened to cut his head off and made motions with the sword of a sideways swipe to depict him decapitating him.
“Main also prodded his body with the sword and threatened to take each sword and cut him in a ‘V’ shape.”
He was then forced back into the living room where Robertson took a green jumper from the sofa and the pair left, taking their victim’s bicycle with them as they went.
The man phoned the police who found him covered in blood before tracing Robertson and Main nearby.
Main was also found to have a Stanley knife in his pocket.
Their victim was taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and found to have a broken finger, broken shoulder, swelling and bruising to his face, a cut to his head which needed to be glued closed, and various other marks and bruises.
Robertson and Main, both prisoners of HMP Grampian, each pled guilty to assault to severe injury and robbery.
Main also admitted possession of a knife.
Sheriff Morag McLaughlin deferred sentence on the men until next month for reports.
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