From Help The Aged - To Help Yourself

Two pensioners believed to be Scotland's oldest robbers have admitted stealing more than £2,000 in cash and goods from a newsagents in Glasgow. Richard Mulhearn, 70 and 72-year-old James Adams (both pictured right) raided MK & Co newsagents, on Byres Road, in October last year.

Glasgow Sherriff Court heard how Mulhearne distracted the shop assistant by asking her about light bulbs while Adams made off with the goods.

Sentence on both men was deferred for reports and they were released on bail. Mulhearn and Adams, both from the city's Maryhill area, admitted stealing cash, stamps, mobile phone top-up cards and power cards in October.

Prosecutor Mark Allen told the court that the 57-year-old shop assistant was working on her own at about 1300 BST when Mulhearn came into the shop. He said: "Richard Mulhearn entered the shop and asked the shop assistant for help in purchasing light bulbs. The light bulbs were at the rear of the shop while the till area was at the front of the shop next to the entrance and she was distracted away from it. Meantime, Mr Adams had entered the store and the shop assistant began to form the impression that Mr Mulhearn was trying to stall her at the rear of the shop and take her attention away from what was happening at the front. What was happening was the removal of goods from that area, goods amounting to several thousands of pounds." The shop assistant later alerted the police after noticing that goods were missing.

The court heard that the police later recovered £700 in cash from underneath a cushion in Mulhearn's living room as well as a mobile top-up card. He tried to claim he had been saving his pension for Christmas but was arrested and charged. Adams was apprehended after a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Sheriff Linda Ruxton told the men that a jail sentence was 'utmost' in her mind.