Robber jailed after toilet escape

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A robber who escaped through a Glasgow hospital toilet ceiling as a police escort waited outside the cubicle has been jailed for nine years.

The officer opened the door to see one of 25-year-old Peter Duff's legs dangling from the ceiling as he pulled himself up into the roof space.

Duff pleaded guilty to breaking in to a building site, where he claimed to have broken his elbow.

He also admitted attempting to evade justice and flouting the Firearms Act.

The High Court in Glasgow heard how Duff had been arrested after breaking into the Fleming building site on Glen Morriston Road, Darnley, on 7 March, armed with a gun and with intent to steal.

Ceiling tiles

He was taken to Glasgow's Southern General Hospital by two police officers after claiming he was injured.

Following an x-ray he asked to go to the toilet where he made his escape.

Neil Beardmore, prosecuting, said: "A few moments later the policeman opened the cubicle door to check on the accused and noticed he was not within the cubicle.

"He looked up towards the ceiling and saw one of the accused's legs dangling from the ceiling.

"The accused had removed the tiling from the ceiling and made his escape."

Temporary judge Alastair Stewart QC heard that Duff, described as a prisoner in Barlinnie, smashed a window, entered an adjacent building and made his getaway but was captured two days later.