Armed carjackers foiled by driver

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A driver who had his car hijacked at gunpoint by two armed men foiled his attackers by driving them towards the local police headquarters.

Andrew Robertson was supposed to be taking carjackers Robert Blakeway and Alan Lynn to his house to collect his wallet, a court heard.

But he headed for police headquarters in Motherwell instead, before managing to alert a passing patrol car.

Blakeway and Lynn admitted kidnapping and robbery. Sentence was deferred.

The High Court in Edinburgh was told Mr Robertson, 56, had been driving his silver Ford Fiesta home through Motherwell after taking his dog for a walk in Strathclyde Park on the afternoon of Saturday 24 January.

He was so terrified that he had in mind the idea of driving the car straight through the front door of the police station Derick NelsonAdvocate depute

When he slowed down at traffic lights, Blakeway, 27, approached and asked for directions to a bus stop.

As he spoke, 25-year-old Lynn, whose face was hidden by a scarf and hood, slid into the front passenger seat and put his pistol against Mr Robertson's head.

They demanded money from their victim, who told them he had left it at his home in Windmillhill Street - which he knew was the address of the town's main police station.

"He was so terrified that he had in mind the idea of driving the car straight through the front door of the police station," advocate depute Derick Nelson, prosecuting, told the court.

As Mr Robertson approached a mini-roundabout he spotted an oncoming police car.

"Mr Robertson pulled into the inside lane, drove over the roundabout and accelerated towards the traffic car while sounding his horn," said Mr Nelson.

"The police traffic car had to accelerate to avoid being hit and then stopped."

Mr Robertson jumped out of his car shouting: "They've got a gun. They've just held me up."

Previous convictions

Blakeway and Lynn tried to run away but the traffic car chased them. Lynn was brought to the ground by blows from a police baton as he tried to draw the hand-gun - which was later found to be a carbon-dioxide powered pistol - from the waistband of his trousers.

The accused, both of Bellshill, Lanarkshire, pleaded guilty to a charge of abduction and robbery.

Lynn also admitted having a firearm with intent to make police constables Alasdair Marshall and Ross Halliday believe violence would be used against them and also breaching the Firearms Act by possessing the weapon after serving a long jail sentence.

Lynn had stolen £17.51 in cash from the car, before ordering Mr Robertson to drive home.

"Get to your house. Tell your wife we're your mates," Lynn had ordered him.

The court also heard of a tally of mistakes made by the robbers during the short journey.

Lynn lit a cigarette and passed it to Blakeway. It was later found to have traces of the DNA of both men.

Blakeway also took a pair of sheepskin gloves belonging to Mr Robertson's wife, which he found in the car.

He was still wearing them when stopped by police.

And Lynn's pistol would not work.

Lord Brailsford was told that Blakeway had a record of 40 minor previous convictions and was on bail at the time.

Lynn has served prison sentences for robbery and serious assault.

The judge called for background reports and remanded the pair in custody until next month when they are due to be sentenced.