An armed robber who charged into a north-east home with a sawn-off shotgun has failed in a bid to have his conviction quashed.
Scott Fowler donned a wrestling mask before forcing his way into Colin Verral’s flat on Finlayson Street in Fraserburgh last January.
He was jailed for 10 years, alongside his accomplice Slessor Buchan, who was sentenced to seven years in prison.
Fowler launched an appeal in an attempt to clear his name and cut his sentence in February.
Judges in Edinburgh, however, yesterday rejected the 38-year-old’s appeal against his conviction and sentence.
Fowler had denied the offence, but was found guilty by a jury of 10 men and five women at the High Court in Aberdeen last summer.
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Neither Fowler or Buchan showed any emotion as they were convicted of the “appalling” crime.
During the original proceedings, Mr Verral told the jury he had passed out when Fowler and Buchan shot the gun into the ceiling of his home.
Leeann Shaw, meanwhile, told the jury her job during the raid was to convince Mr Verral to open his door. She was jailed for a year for her part.
The court was also shown a social media post from 2016 of Fowler wearing a wrestling mask like that described by Mr Verral.
Police officers did not, however, find the gun or masks used in the robbery.
Judge Lord Uist said the fact that they had opted to use a firearm was the “most alarming aspect” of the crime.
He said: “You have both been convicted by the jury of an appalling assault and robbery of a man in his home in Fraserburgh in January this year.
“The most alarming aspect of this case is that you have a sawn-off shotgun which has never been recovered.
“Only real criminals have sawn-off shotguns.”
Police also welcomed the conviction and said it was time the pair faced up to their “terrifying” actions.
Detective Sergeant George Nixon said at the time: “Buchan and Fowler took their threatening behaviour to the extreme by using a firearm to deliberately frighten their victim.
“It would have been a terrifying experience and one which would have a long lasting impact if you believed your life was at risk.
“Incidents of this nature are unheard of in Fraserburgh – let alone the north-east – and they acted with no consideration for the fear and alarm they would inevitably cause.”
