A MAN has appeared in court charged under an ancient Scots law which used to carry the death penalty.

Graeme Bryden, 27, is accused of hamesucken after a 93-year-old woman was attacked and robbed in her own home.

The pensioner was woken by an intruder in her property in Saltcoats, North Ayrshire, at around 2am on June 25, in what police described as a "very distressing experience".

Mr Bryden, 27, of Stevenston, made no plea nor declaration at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court yesterday to charges of hamesucken and robbery.

He was remanded in custody and is expected to re-appear in court next week for further examination.

Hamesucken, which is rarely used in Scots Law, is described as the "the felonious seeking and invasion of a person in their dwelling house".