Three men in court after Bearsden robbery

Three men have appeared in court charged with the abduction and robbery of two pensioners in their own home.

24 year-old Andrew Beech , 30 year-old Christopher Fletcher 27 year-old and Lee Bates are said to have carried out the crime at a house in Bearsden, East Dunbartonshire last September.

The two alleged victims are a 79 year-old man and a 76 year-old woman.

The charge includes claims the trio did “pretend to be from the Water Board” and enter the property “by deceit and without permission”.

The OAPs are said to have been assaulted with an accusation that a hand was put over the woman's mouth and she was told not to speak or move.

It is alleged the man was pushed, knocked to the ground and restrained.

Prosecutors further claim demands for £20,000 were made, the house was ransacked and that they “did rob them of a quantity of money”.

Bates faces a separate charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Lawyers for the trio pled not guilty on their behalf at the High Court in Glasgow.

Judge Lord Mulholland adjourned the case until a further hearing next month