A pair of thugs were described as “buzzed up” after a terrifying robbery at the home of two elderly women in Dumfries.
Brandon Boyd and Conor Clark smashed into the farmhouse and tied up Margaret Muir, 89, and 69 year-old Mary Copmartin.
The masked duo stole jewellery, watches, cash and mobile phones from the pensioners.
Boyd, 26, and Clark, 27, had initially denied involvement in the crime during a trial at the High Court in Glasgow.
But, they changed their pleas after Calvin Patterson, 24, who had charges dropped, came into the witness box and told how he had effectively been the getaway driver for the pair.
Boyd, of Mauchline, Ayrshire, and Clark, of Dumfries, went on to admit taking part in the assault and robbery following Patterson’s testimony.
They had been on bail, but were remanded in custody by judge Lord Fairley pending sentencing next month.
Patterson, also of Dumfries, had initially been in the dock with the pair facing a total of nine charges.
But he was acquitted during the trial after the accusations were withdrawn against him.
He went on to become a prosecution witness in the case.
Patterson said Clark, whom he had known since 2015, had spoken of a plan to rob the farmhouse.
He told jurors he was given a mobile phone as part of the plot to raid the property.
Patterson went on to collect both Clark, Boyd and another in his car on the night of the crime - June 13, 2019.
He drove to a garden centre near the house before later returning to collect them.
He told the trial: “They got in the car. They were pretty buzzed up.
“I asked what they got and the said they got a lot of gold and money.
“They said one of the women was acting as if she was having a heart attack, but that she was alright.”
The charge stated the thugs smashed glass doors and bound the victims’ hands and arms with cable ties.
It was also said they repeatedly demanded safe keys and threatened the women with violence.
Patterson told how he dropped the robbers off and they got into Boyd’s car.
Clark later contacted Patterson via an encrypted messenger app.
Miss Dow: “Did he mention what they were going to do with what was taken?”
Patterson: “Split it. I was to get £3,000, but I got £1,000. “
Boyd’s QC John Scullion told Patterson during the trial that he was that “lucky” as he came to court facing nine charges which were then dropped.
One of those other accusations withdrawn was a claim Patterson, Clark and 28-year-old Corey Boyd had been involved in the assault and robbery of a man at a house in Lockerbie on April 19, 2019.
Not guilty pleas were also accepted for Clark and Corey Boyd on that charge.
Lord Fairley deferred sentencing on Brandon Boyd and Clark for reports.
