Man and woman tied victim to chair and hit him with hammer repeatedly before stealing his inheritance

A man and woman spent a week subjecting their “broken” victim to violent assaults so they could rob him of his inheritance, a court heard.

Leanne Houston, 34, and Stephen Kerr, 40, managed to get their hands on thousands of pounds from their victim, who can’t be named for legal reasons.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard how the duo assaulted the man at locations in north Glasgow between May 6 and May 12 2023.

The court heard how the duo repeatedly struck the man with a knife and a hammer and repeatedly demanded that he tell them the PIN number to his bank cards.

The court heard how the pair repeatedly forced him to accompany them to ATMs to withdraw cash which they used to buy drugs and alcohol.

They also compelled him to buy items from shops for them. The pair also forced them to transfer money from his savings account into his current account.

The pair forced the male to spend cash which he inherited after suffering a family bereavement.

The court heard that the abuse stopped after the man managed to pluck up enough courage to leave a property. He went to his bank in Glasgow’s west end and shocked staff noticed how he was covered in cuts and bruises.

Police learned about the man’s ordeal and managed to build a case to bring the pair to justice.

Houston, of Parkhead, Glasgow, and Kerr, a prisoner of HMP Barlinnie, denied any wrongdoing. The pair stood trial on charges of assault and robbery of the man.

Kerr also stood trial accused of raping the male during the week long ordeal.

Late on Thursday afternoon, jurors returned guilty verdicts on the pair to the the assault and robbery charge. Kerr was acquitted of the rape charge.

Prosecutor Alan Cameron KC revealed that the pair had convictions for previous offending.

This prompted judge Alistair Watson to call for reports and remand the pair in custody ahead of a sentencing hearing next year.

He told the duo: “Be under no illusion – you both face lengthy custodial sentences for an absolutely dreadful course of conduct towards that man.

“We heard evidence from a witness who described him as being a ‘broken man’.

“Given the nature of the such offending, I am going to remand you both in custody.”

During proceedings, the man told the court that he had addiction issues with alcohol.

He told Mr Cameron that he had came to know the pair and went to a house in Lambhill, Glasgow, with the duo.

Describing the abuse he was subjected to, the man said: “The had basically tied me to a chair. They had tied me to the chair with cable ties.

“He hit me with a hammer repeatedly. He would punch and kick me – he would volley me. Leanne was asking me for my PIN number.

“They had me tied to the chair for a few days. Leanne stabbed me in the arm repeatedly with a knife – a wee knife she got from the kitchen.”

He said he was forced to go to nearby shops to buy the pair booze. He said Leanne would sit on a couch “drinking vodka” as Kerr abused him.

Jurors heard recordings of the man phoning his bank. He could be heard asking staff to transfer money from his savings account into his current account.

In one call, Houston’s voice could be heard in the background talking about what he should do.

The man told the court that he eventually left the house and went to a branch of his bank in the city’s Byres Road to cancel his bank cards. He was concerned that the duo would continue to spend his money.

Police became aware of what the pair were doing to him. They apprehended the duo and brought them to justice.

Both denied any wrongdoing.

Houston told jurors that she had long term problems with drugs and alcohol and had met her victim by attending a rehab centre in Glasgow.

She also told jurors that she had worked as a “glamour model” and an addictions worker before being arrested for her actions.

Following conviction, Houston’s lawyer, Lord Stewart of Dirleton KC – the former Advocate General in Boris Johnson’s government – asked for his client’s bail to be continued.

However, judge Watson refused to grant the request.

The pair will be sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow on February 3 2025.