A robber who hid behind a cardboard box in the hallway of a block of flats before leaping out, beating a man with a mallet, and stealing his watch, was jailed for 16 months today.
Denholm Davidson, 28, lurked behind the "large" carton for at least 15 minutes before pouncing as victim Colin Campbell, 54, entered the common close in Grangemouth, Stirlingshire.
Mr Campbell had returned by taxi to the flats in Torwood Avenue, Grangemouth, about 8.30 pm, Falkirk Sheriff Court was told.
Prosecutor Michael Maguire said: "After getting out of the taxi and entering the flats he saw a large cardboard box lying on the floor that hadn't been there earlier.
"The accused jumped out from behind the box and began hitting Mr Campbell with a mallet, three or four times."
Mr Campbell told Davidson he was "going to end up killing him" andl managed to grab the mallet. The struggle moved to a grassy area in front of the flats when the ongoing incident was spotted by two passing police officers.
They intervened and Davidson got to his feet and ran off, before being caught close by.
He blustered, "I never done it -- it wasn't me."
Mr Campbell's wallet containing cards and POUNDS 20 in cash was taken in the incident, and his blood-spattered Sekonda watch was found lying nearby. The mallet was found at the rear of the flats.
Mr Campbell suffered cuts to the head and "indentations caused by the mallet" but declined an invitation to go to hospital.
Davidson, of Falkirk, pleaded guilty to assault and robbery. The incident happened on April 3rd (2021).
Davidson also admitted breaking into a flat in Dundee Street, Edinburgh, on February 16th 2020 and stealing a TV.
Solicitor Hazel McGuinness, defending, said Davidson had not initially intended to rob Mr Campbell, but had been advised by his then girlfriend that Mr Campbell had "come on to her".
Ms McGuinness said Davidson, who had taken a large amount of Valium, "wasn't in the right frame of mind to deal with that".
She said: "He was angry and lost his temper and acted in the manner described.
"Its perhaps fortunate Mr Campbell's injuries weren't worse, given the use of the mallet."
Sheriff Eric Brown jailed Davidson for 16 months.
