TWO men have appeared in court charged with robbing a man on two separate occasions at a Dalmuir tower block.

Antonio Ross, 25, and 48-year-old Patrick McGarvey pleaded not guilty to three charges at a hearing at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on March 17.

Prosecutors claim that the pair, who were listed in court papers as inmates at Low Moss and Greenock prisons respectively, robbed their alleged victim of a quantity of bank cards and around £12 in cash at a property in Dunswin Court on December 13.

It's further alleged that the pair assaulted the same man in the foyer at Dunswin Court on December 23, and that they demanded money from him, repeatedly struck him on the head and knocked him to the ground, and took around £10 in cash from his pockets.

A third charge against both men accuses them of threatening their alleged victim if he went to the police, "in an attempt to avoid detection and the pains of prosecution".

Solicitors Scott Adair and Brian McGuire confirmed to Sheriff William Gallacher that their clients were pleading not guilty to all three charges, and that they were ready to proceed to trial.

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However, hinting at the effect of the coronavirus pandemic on the operation of the court system, Sheriff Gallacher told the pair that there was "an issue as to whether these matters can properly proceed to trial", and continued the case to a further procedural hearing.

Both men were remanded in custody.