One of three men, banged up for more than 11 years for his part in a £500,000-plus armed robbery at world-famous Gleneagles Hotel, had his sentence extended after he was caught with a mobile phone charger in Perth Prison.
Thirty-two-year-old Liam Richardson, along with two accomplices, received combined jail terms of 40 years and eight months after they escaped with 50 Rolex watches, valued at £516,750, from the Mappin and Webb jewellery boutique at the top Perthshire hotel in June 2017.
Staff thought the gang were carrying out a “terrorist attack” as the masked raiders brandished hammers, a machete and pistol.
Latest COVID infection rate for published as virus hotspots are revealed
Richardson has now had another 10 months added to his present sentence at Perth Sheriff Court.
He admitted being in possession of the charger at Perth ’s Edinburgh Road jail on May 23, 2019.
Depute fiscal Sarah Wilkinson said: “The accused was in his cell alone.
Councillor's heartbroken family urges everyone to get COVID vaccine
“Information was received that he might be in possession of a prohibited article.
“A search was conducted and the item was recovered.”
Solicitor John McLaughlin said his client was scheduled to be “considered” for transfer to the open prison estate at Castle Huntly in April of next year.
Heavenly shots of Perthshire sky from stargazers
He acknowledged, however, that the discovery of the charger might “hinder” that move.
“There’s a significant waiting list for the open estate,” added the lawyer.
“His earliest liberation date is 2028, which is some way away.”
Stone of Destiny to return home to Perthshire in historic move
Sheriff Lindsay Foulis ordered the charger to be forfeited and imposed a consecutive jail term on him.
Richardson, from London, was jailed for 11 years and four months, while Richard Fleming (42), also from the capital, was sent down for 18 years, at Edinburgh High Court in October, 2018.
A third raider who took part in the terrifying robbery was also given 11 years and four months after he was extradited from South America to face justice.
Family's heartbreak as care home company bans all Christmas visits
The weekend before the High Court trial, police discovered that Dean Jones (39) had boarded a flight from Turkey, bound for Brazil.
The Brazilian authorities were contacted and he was detained as he disembarked from a plane at Sao Paulo airport in August, 2018.
The smash and grab heist at the exclusive five-star resort, near Auchterarder, was all over in two minutes.
The trio then fled the scene in an Audi which was soon abandoned.
They then swapped to a Range Rover, which was later found burnt out at a graveyard in the east end of Glasgow.
Sentencing judge Lady Carmichael said: “The robbery was an act of serious, premeditated criminality which involved significant advance planning.”
