A bungling Scots crook who broke into a couple's flat was whacked over the head with a frying pan before he sunk his teeth into their arms. Darren Gowran has been jailed for two years after forcing his way into the Stirling home of Armand and Liga Mierina while they slept at around 1.30am on March 14.
Falkirk Sheriff Court was told that the door entry system to the block of modern flats was out of operation and access to the common close was insecure. The couple, aged 63 and 57, were awoken by the sound of “loud kicking at the front door” of their Cowane Street home.
Armand found Gowran in the hallway - holding Liga's handbag - and confronted him before a violent struggle ensued which resulted in the would-be-thief smacking him in the face. Fiscal depute Smith said: “As a result of the accused struggling violently with Mr Mierina, Mrs Mierina obtained a frying pan from the kitchen and struck the accused on the back of the head with it."
