Ex-soldier tried to rob triple heart bypass patient in his home Published on Wednesday 7 March 2012 13:02 A "DESPICABLE" former soldier broke into the home of a retired businessman facing triple heart bypass surgery and struggled with him in his bedroom. Robbie Morrison, 28, crept in to the property in Edinburgh in the middle of the night and demanded cash from 76-year-old Alan Saville. The thug only left the house in Spylaw Road after the pensioner fled outside to summon help from his son-in-law. Brave Mr Saville told today how he tried to fight off the attacker - but added that he felt sorry for him. At Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday, Morrison, 28, was branded "despicable" by a sheriff after admitting breaking in and stealing phones from Mr Saville. At the court hearing, fiscal depute John Kirk described the break-in on 10 June last year. He said: "The complainer was a 76-year-old gentleman who at the time was due to undergo a triple heart bypass. He had gone to bed as normal, when he was woken by creeping floorboards, which at first he thought nothing of. He then noticed there in his bedroom was the accused. Mr Kirk said Morrison "repeatedly demanded money from" the victim. Mr Saville then tried to get the accused out of the house and there was a struggle between the two. "The accused continued to demand that he be given £50," said Mr Kirk. Mr Saville managed to get out the house and alert his son who was a neighbour. Both returned to the house where the accused still was, and they managed to put him out and call the police. It transpired that all that was missing was two mobile phones with a value of £60. Sheriff Deirdre MacNeill said: "This is the most despicable type of event." She continued: "The commission of this offence involving the complainer in his own house, in his own bed is just despicable." Morrison's solicitor John Good said the accused had served two tours of duty with the armed forces, and was "troubled" by what he had done. He said: "He was discharged for various reasons and he has not found his feet. He has fallen in with some bad company. Adjourning the case until 3 April for reports, Sheriff MacNeil said: "It's difficult to see that there is any appropriate disposal other than custody."