West Lothian prisoner who attacked couple in botched robbery bid dies behind bars

A bungling robber who assaulted a couple and raided a bookies has died behind bars in West Lothian.

Lee Brown, 36, was jailed for more than six years in 2011 at the age of 22 for threatening staff at Ladbrokes' Baldridgeburn branch with a hammer and table leg before making off with £2000, Dunfermline Press reports.

Working alongside another robber, the pair were caught thanks to their nicknames - with Brown being referred to as "Skinny Lee".

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In 2023, The Courier reports Brown was jailed after admitting to the assault of a couple and threatening the man with violence. He was wearing a face covering, a high-vis jacket, black gloves and had black bags taped over his shoes.

Working alongside someone else, Brown kept asking the couple for keys to their safe and told the woman they would "do something to your man's head" if she did not give them the key.

They were reportedly told they did not own a safe and the pair left the property before making off the wrong way in the couple's Toyota having stole two mobile phones.

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Brown was then sentenced to 43 months and two weeks in prison. He died behind pars at HMP Addiewell on November 17, 2024 with police notified and a mandatory Fatal Accident Inquiry to take place in due course.

A Scottish Prison Service spokesperson said: “Every death, whether in prison custody or in our communities, is a tragedy for all those who knew and supported the individual.

“Following the death of someone in our care, Police Scotland are advised, and the matter reported to the Procurator Fiscal. Fatal Accident Inquiries are held in due course.”

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