Man burgled flat on same day of his release from jail

A habitual housebreaker is back behind bars – after breaking into a property on the same day he was released from prison.

Raymond Hartley, 28, from Coatbridge, pleaded guilty at Airdrie Sheriff Court last week to breaking into a flat in Jackson Court on July 14, with intent to steal.

Prosecutor Agnes Meek told the court:“At 6pm the homeowner left the flat secured.

“Police were called later that evening after reports that a door had been forced open.

“When they attended they found Hartley in the bedroom. He told officers that he had kicked the door in as he thought it was a mate’s house.”

Defence lawyer John McGeechan said of his client:“He had been in custody. His previous convictions have been mainly for theft and dishonesty-related offences to feed his drug problem.

“He knows what the consequences are. He had only been released from prison that day and was looking for somewhere to stay the night.

“It was good police work that caught him in the house.”

Jailing Hartley, Sheriff Derek O’Carroll told him:“You have an unenviable record which makes this offence serious by its very nature.

“You will be given credit for the fact you pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity. You would normally have been sentenced to 24 months but I will reduce it to 17 months.”

Hartley’s sentence was backdated to July 26, when he was first remanded in custody.