Carjacker given jail term
4:10pm Thursday 22nd May 2008
A MAN has been sent to prison for nearly four years after admitting to stealing a pensioner's car in Barnton at gunpoint.
Michael Morrison, 21, of Coronation Road, Barnton, was charged with robbery of a car and a handbag and possession of an imitation firearm with intent to steal.
He was given 44 months for the robbery, and an 18-month term for possessing the firearm, to run concurrently.
Morrison stole the car from a 69-year-old customer at the Co-operative store in Lydyett Lane, Barnton, at 6.30pm on Tuesday, February 19.
The woman was approached by Morrison when she was in her silver Honda CRV 4x4. She had turned the engine on, but Morrison opened the driver's door and pointed the small hand gun at her.
He then drove off in the direction of Townfield Road. The woman was left shaken, but uninjured.
Det Con Steve Jones, who was officer in charge of the investigation, said he was pleased with the sentence.
"The courts have seen it for the nasty incident that it was, and have sentenced accordingly. Even with the credit they gave him for an early guilty plea, we are pleased.
"The woman involved was 69-years-old and because of the time of year it was dark, and you can imagine the distress she suffered.
"We have looked after her and she's getting there. If you get a fright like that it's going to make you think about doing things, but she's a very strong woman. I'm sure she will recover."
The court also ordered Morrison's firearm to be forfeited.
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