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08/03/2007
'Elf thief' found guilty
A man has been found guilty of robbing a Belfast underwear shop at knifepoint.
Robert Boyd, 45, from Carrickfergus said he believed he was a female elf called Buho when he stole underwear from the Orchid shop on the Lisburn Road in Belfast.
He armed himself with a knife before stealing two sets of bras, pants, suspender belts and stockings, while disguised in a blonde curly wig, beanie hat and reading glasses on 14 December 2005.
Belfast Crown Court heard how Mr Boyd had been involved in a role-playing game at the time, and his character was called Buho.
He told the jury it “could be right” that Buho had intended to rob the shop, but he could not remember what was going through his mind at the time.
Boyd, who has visited a psychiatrist regularly, told his defence counsel that the game was known as Shadowrun, and he had participated with a small group of people.
His character was described to the court as a shaman or magical elf, who carried a small Japanese sword as a weapon.
The Queen’s University lab technician, from Broadlands in Carrickfergus had denied robbery, but admitted he “seemed to have blurred that line between reality and fantasy.”
The jury returned a majority guilty verdict.
He has been released on bail and sentencing has been adjourned for probation reports.
(JM/SP)
Robert Boyd, 45, from Carrickfergus said he believed he was a female elf called Buho when he stole underwear from the Orchid shop on the Lisburn Road in Belfast.
He armed himself with a knife before stealing two sets of bras, pants, suspender belts and stockings, while disguised in a blonde curly wig, beanie hat and reading glasses on 14 December 2005.
Belfast Crown Court heard how Mr Boyd had been involved in a role-playing game at the time, and his character was called Buho.
He told the jury it “could be right” that Buho had intended to rob the shop, but he could not remember what was going through his mind at the time.
Boyd, who has visited a psychiatrist regularly, told his defence counsel that the game was known as Shadowrun, and he had participated with a small group of people.
His character was described to the court as a shaman or magical elf, who carried a small Japanese sword as a weapon.
The Queen’s University lab technician, from Broadlands in Carrickfergus had denied robbery, but admitted he “seemed to have blurred that line between reality and fantasy.”
The jury returned a majority guilty verdict.
He has been released on bail and sentencing has been adjourned for probation reports.
(JM/SP)
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