A MAN has pleaded guilty to assaulting and robbing the daughter of Scotland's richest woman of £200,000 of jewellery after he heard her give evidence at his trial.
Brian Martin, 58, interrupted proceedings at the High Court in Edinburgh to apologise to Sarah Gloag, the daughter of Stagecoach tycoon Ann Gloag.
The wheelchair user had been listening to the hairdresser tell the court how two men forced their way into her Perthshire home in January.
She told a jury how she had a knife held to her throat and was threatened before she and her husband Sundeep were tied up.
As the court were hearing details about how her mother Ann contacted police moments after the two men fled the property, Mr Martin stopped proceedings.
From the dock, Mr Martin shouted an apology to Ms Gloag who was standing in the witness box just a few feet away.
Martin, who had denied attacking Ms Gloag and other charges during the three day trial, admitted his guilt and said: "I'm sorry Mrs Gloag. Please accept my heartfelt apologies. You and your family shouldn't have to go through this."
Addressing temporary judge Paul Arthurson QC, Mr Martin then said: "Your honour. I wish to change my plea from not guilty to guilty."
As she left court, Ms Gloag looked to Mr Martin and said 'thank you.'
The dramatic intervention came on the third day of proceedings against Mr Martin and Christopher McMultan,40. He continues to deny all charges.
As well as admitting robbing Ms Gloag on January 19 this year, Mr Martin pleaded guilty to robbing David Gilfoyle and Joanne Miles at a house in Muthill, Perthshire, on January 18 2015.
The press were unable to report details of Tuesday's proceedings after reporting restrictions were imposed by the judge. The order was lifted late yesterday.
In her evidence, Ms Gloag told the court that she was doing some DIY work at her property in Kinfauns when she noticed two men at her front door.
Ms Gloag told advocate depute Paul Brown, prosecuting, that she asked them if they were lost and could she help them.
Ms Gloag alleged Martin produced a knife and forced his way inside the property with the second man.
The court heard that he held the blade o her a throat and she was ordered to get on "get on the f*****g ground.
She was tied up with tape and was also asked where her safe was.
The court heard that her husband Sundeep took Martin upstairs and he eventually came back down stairs with a supermarket bag.
She then told the court that Martin then threatened her.
Ms Gloag said: "He said 'if the blues and twos come, I'll come back and I'll f*****g stab yeese."
Ms Gloag also told Mr Brown that Martin and the second man then left.
She told the court: "He said 'don't press the panic alarms and don't use the phone. Give us 20 minutes and then you can call whoever you want."
Ms Gloag told the court that she and her husband were able to free themselves. Her mother Ann, who with her brother and Stagecoach co-founder Sir Brian Souter is worth around £1billion, then phoned the house.
Her husband Sundeep answered and said: "We've just been robbed."
Martin then admitted his guilt. His sentence has been deferred.
The trial is expected to continue today of Mr McMultan, a prisoner at HMP Perth.
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