Screwdriver-wielding masked thug who mugged two women in Meadows is jailed

The 29-year-old pulled a weapon on two young women

A MASKED thug who mugged two young women in the Meadows while brandishing a screwdriver has been jailed for four years.

Barry Hunter, 29, pulled the blade on terrified victims Emily Darrer, 22, and Rowan Bruce, 19, as he robbed them of a handbag and cash.

Barry Hunter has been jailed.

His victims were making their way home from a night out clubbing when Hunter and an unknown accomplice struck at 3am.

Hunter grabbed and threw Ms Darrer to the ground before snatching her friend’s handbag and making his escape on a bicycle.

‘Harrowing’ attack

Both victims were left shaken following the “harrowing” robbery and after making their way home called in the police.

Hunter was snared two weeks later after being identified on CCTV when he attempted to use a bank card stolen during the robbery.

He appeared from custody at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Thursday where he pleaded guilty to the assault and robbery in the early hours of November 3 last year.

Prosecutor Jade Doidge said both women had been out socialising at the city’s Liquid Room nightclub and were heading home through Middle Meadow Walk when they became aware of two masked men behind them on bikes.

Ms Doidge said Hunter “stopped directly in front of them” and got off his bike before “pacing across the path in front of them”.

The fiscal said: “He was acting aggressively and shouted ‘give me your money I’ve got a knife’.

“Ms Darrer was then grabbed by the accused by the arms and as she pulled away she was thrown to the ground.”

Ms Bruce threw her handbag to the ground where “both males recovered it and made off on their bikes”.

‘Appalling record’

The thieves rode off with the handbag containing a purse, a small amount of cash, a bank card, house keys and a provisional driving licence.

The terrified women managed to make their way back to Ms Darrer’s flat nearby before calling the police.

Following the attack Hunter attempted to use Ms Bruce’s bank card at a newsagents at North Bridge but the victim had contacted her bank and cancelled it.

Police identified Hunter, from Edinburgh, from the shop’s CCTV and he was eventually arrested 12 days later.

Solicitor Julia McPartland, said her client was a user of heroin and Valium and though he had told the women he had a knife it was in fact a screwdriver.

The brief added: “All of his previous offending is connected to his drug use, namely to fund his habit.”

Sheriff Robert Fife told Hunter the robbery was so severe he had deliberated whether to send the case to the High Court for sentencing but ultimately decided to deal with the matter himself.

He added Hunter had an “appalling record” including a previous jail term for assault and robbery and the use of a screwdriver.

Hunter was caged for four years after admitting the robbery and using the bank card.