Two mothers and man jailed for more than 20 years for "brutal" attack in Forres

TWO young mothers and a male accomplice were jailed for a total of more than 20 years today (Thursday, November 24) for a brutal murder bid on a man in his own home.

Rhys Baker, Suzanne Kelly and Caitlin Wells entered the victim's address and subjected him to a violent onslaught that continued after he passed out.

Andrew McLaren (27) was hospitalised after he suffered facial fractures, multiple lacerations and internal bleeding during the attempted murder.

During the attack on April 3 last year at Hepworth Lane, Forres, he was repeatedly punched on the head resulting in him falling to the floor.

He was grabbed by his clothing and dragged along the floor and repeatedly kicked in the head and body and struck with metal and wooden poles.

Kelly (29) of Califer Road, Forres, Wells (22) of Park Road, Lhanbryde and Baker (30) a prisoner in Inverness, had earlier denied the murder bid.

But a jury found them guilty of assaulting Mr McLaren to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and to the danger of his life and attempting to murder him.

A judge told the trio at the High Court in Edinburgh: "You have been convicted of the attempted murder of Andrew McLaren by together perpetrating on him an unprovoked and concerted attack."

Lord Armstrong said: "This was a brutal and excessively violent, sustained attack, continued after your victim fell unconscious and perpetrated against him in his own home."

The judge said that as a consequence the victim suffered injuries which were " potentially life threatening".

Lord Armstrong said that he considered Baker, who has 38 previous convictions, including nine for assault, to be the "principal actor" in the assault on the victim and jailed him for nine and a half years.

He said that he accepted that there was no level of planning on his part and that he acted on impulse in the murder bid.

Baker had been freed on two separate bail orders from Inverness Sheriff Court at the time he took part in the attack on his victim.

Lord Armstrong told Kelly, the mother of a daughter, that he noted she had expressed remorse and taken steps to lead a pro-social life. Kelly, who has four previous convictions for assault, was jailed for seven years.

The youngest of the attackers, first offender Wells, who also has a daughter, was jailed for five years after Lord Armstrong told her: "I am satisfied there is no appropriate alternative to a custodial disposal."

The judge said that he took into account her age at the time of the offence and her status as a first offender.

Defence counsel Simon Gilbride, for Baker, said that he was shocked when shown video of the aftermath of the attack.

He said Baker had stayed out of trouble for a period after leaving the Lossiemouth area, but later returned to "bad habits".

Bill Adam, counsel for Wells, said: "She does have mental health issues and is able to manage those issues through prescribed medication."