A MASKED thug was today convicted of blowing up a Clydebank cash machine in a late night raid which left a man lying seriously injured in the rubble.

James Deeney, 49, denied causing the blast and claimed he was out walking his dog in the area.

Deeney, from Low Crescent, Whitecrook, chose a machine at his local Farmfoods as his target.

However, the blast went wrong leaving his male accomplice, who cannot be named for legal reasons, with skull and brain injuries.

Deeney was found guilty today at the High Court in Glasgow of forcing entry to a lockfast ATM using gas with intent to steal.

He was also charged with unlawfully and maliciously causing an explosion likely to endanger life or cause serious damage to property.

Jurors were shown dramatic CCTV footage of the sudden blast which swept one of the men off their feet, leaving him unconscious.

Prior to that, they had seen the masked pair in dark clothes racing over to the ATM.

Read more: Clydebank Farmfoods ATM explosion trial: Court hears 'house shuddered'

Prosecutor Stephen McCloy said: "Things didn't go to plan.

"The machine was breached but they didn't manage to get the money.

"This was because the male caught in the blast was seriously injured.”

Laura Alison, who lived nearby, told jurors her “whole house shuddered” when the explosion went off.

Members of the public who were close by dialled 999.

Ambulance crews took the man to hospital for treatment.

He sustained a skull and facial fractures plus bleeding and bruising to the brain.

Deeney was interviewed by police the next day and denied involvement in the robbery.

When officers asked him why his van was in the area, Deeney said that he was looking for his dog.

The father-of-two later told officers that he told them "porky pies" but maintained his innocence.

Sentence was deferred by Judge Michael O’Grady QC and Deeney will learn his fate in October.

He was remanded in custody in the meantime.