ONE of Police Scotland's top cops has spoken out after a man who murdered a Calton pensioner changed his plea to guilty during a High Court trial.

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Livingstone was tasked with hunting down Peter Telfer after he went on a crime spree in Glasgow city centre which culminated  in the death of 76-year-old John Baker in the nearby Calton. 

Telfer, 25, plead guilty to the murder of Mr Baker which happened last June, near Abercromby Street. He also admitted robbery and attempted robbery of two other women in Glasgow city centre. 

He was captured on CCTV knifing 76-year-old John Baker twice in the back, only days after being granted bail.

Read: John Baker murder trial: Peter Telfer changes plea to guilty before end of trial

Glasgow Times:

Detective Chief Inspector, Paul Livingstone, above, the Senior Investigating Officer on the case, said: “The murder of John Baker was the terrible and tragic culmination of a violent crime spree on the part of Telfer.

“He progressed through the city centre armed with a knife, out through Trongate and towards the area of Calton.

"He left a trail of carnage behind him. He robbed one woman and attempted to rob another woman at knifepoint, before murdering John Baker.
“The friends and family of John Baker continue to rebuild their lives following the loss of someone they loved and cared for. I hope that some satisfaction can come from knowing that Telfer will be held to account for his actions.

“He is a dangerous individual who acted without thinking about the consequences of his decisions.

"Police Scotland and the Major Investigation Teams will not allow those who perpetrate extreme violence of this type to go undetected for their crimes."

Glasgow Times:

The incident shocked the heartbroken community of the Calton, who raised funds for Mr Baker’s funeral which took place in August.

Mr Baker had lived in the East End area his whole life and was described as a “lovely man” by Catherine Martin, treasure of the Calton Area Association. 

Yesterday, The Evening Times reported that Telfer dramatically changed his plea. 
He also admitted robbing Victoria Weston of her bag outside Glasgow’s Central Station hours before the murder on June 29.
Shortly afterwards he tried to rob Karen Bowman of her bag at a bus stop in Trongate.
Telfer had only been granted bail on June 27 at Glasgow Sheriff Court after being charged with an alleged assault and attempted robbery at a shop on Shettleston Road.
His movements on June 28 around Glasgow city centre were captured on CCTV, as well as the attack on Mr Baker on June 29 and him walking down a nearby street afterwards.
But on Tuesday after the prosecution had lead all evidence, in a dramatic turn of events, Telfer pled guilty to the three charges after the court heard “overwhelming evidence”.
Judge Lord Matthews continued the case and told jurors: “The evidence in this case is about as overwhelming as it can get.”
A date is to be set for his sentence.