Tain man demanded £100 from victim while accomplice held knife to their throat

A man sat frozen in fear as a woman held a knife to his throat and her companion forced their victim to transfer £100 to his bank account.

In the dock of Inverness Sheriff Court was 44-year-old Daniel McLean of Mansfield Estate, Tain who admitted, while acting with another, assaulting the man in his home on November 22, 2022 at King Edward Court, Invergordon and robbing him of the cash and a soundbar.

Fiscal depute Emily Hood told Sheriff Sara Matheson that McLean had messaged the man that evening saying he had to drop off an HDMI cable and was invited round for coffee.

She said that McLean arrived with a female who approached the occupant and held a knife to his throat while McLean removed the soundbar from the TV unit.

"The accused and the female then took his mobile phone from him and was able to transfer £100 to the accused's account as the witness remained frozen in his seat the whole time in fear of what they might do to him."

Ms Hood said that the victim's father had been contacted and informed the police. It wasn't until December 11 that McLean was traced and charged.

Sentence was deferred until May 27 for a background report and McLean's bail was continued.