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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Lanarkshire Live

Vulnerable Lanarkshire man burned with cigarettes in sickening home assault

A vulnerable Lanarkshire man was burned with cigarettes and had a bag and a towel put over his head before being robbed in his East Kilbride home.

Two thugs responsible for the attack narrowly avoided jail for what a sheriff branded "disgraceful" behaviour.

James Coffey, 32, and Andrew Bell, 30, admitted assaulting, abducting and robbing the man in Lindores Drive in June 2019.

Hamilton Sheriff Court heard the victim was threatened and had beer poured over him. He was also kicked and spat on.

He was locked in the property and his bank card was used to withdraw money from an ATM.

Bell also admitted assaulting a second man and preventing him from leaving the same house the next day. He was forced to obtain £200 from a family member and hand it over.

Bell's not guilty plea to a charge of being concerned in the supply of cocaine in East Kilbride over a six-month period was accepted.

Solicitor Gerry McGuire, who represented Bell, said there was a drugs background to the incidents.

He told the court: "My client had been using cocaine and consuming large amounts of alcohol at this time.

"He finds it difficult to recall anything that happened, but is ashamed.

"However, there were no significant injuries, only bruising and grazing. He has had the charges hanging over him for a significant period."

The accused were living in East Kilbride at the time, but Coffey has since moved to Glenrothes and Bell now lives in Yorkshire.

Passing sentence, Sheriff Thomas Millar said: "This was disgraceful behaviour. The people involved had their own difficulties."

He ordered Coffey to carry out 150 hours of unpaid community work while Bell must complete 270 hours.

Both men will be under social work supervision for 18 months.

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