‘Thief went through late mum’s ashes’

A SERIAL THIEF forced his way into homes and stole goods worth almost £20,000 to he lp f u nd h is c rac k cocaine habit.

Peter Winks, who it is claimed sifted through the ashes of the late mother of one of his victims, was caught after his DNA was found on the windows of properties he broke into between December last year and January.

The 39-year-old, a prolific offender, was jailed for almost four years at Dundee Sheriff Court.

Winks was part of a larger gang who targeted several properties across the Broughty Ferry area.

The hoard of items Winks made off with included electronics, medical equipment, jewellery, passports and piggy banks.

The court heard goods worth more than £15,000 have not been recovered.

Gail McCabe, whose home on Sutherland Crescent was among those targeted, said: “He’s put us through a lot and stolen sentimental things which belong to my mum that I’ll never get back.

“He also went through my dead mum’s ashes.

“It’s the stress and anxiety that it puts you through as well. It’s the thought of what would have happened if I had caught him.”

Winks first broke into a property on Duntrune Terrace and police carrying out inquiries in relation to other properties discovered the rear glass door had been smashed.

A torch, a hammer and screwdriver not belonging to the property were also discovered, as well as a bag with medical equipment.

Fiscal depute Saima Rasheed said DNA belonging to Winks was found on the rear window, with his break-in causing more than £370 of damage.

A family who lived on the same street also had their home targeted. They had travelled to Loch Ness for new year celebrations but were called home by neighbours who noticed the lights were on in the house.

Property amounting to £7,055 was stolen, £2,2205 of which was recovered.

The occupants of a third property on Fintry Place also returned home to discover their house had been ransacked, with £10,210 of goods stolen and just £550 recovered.

Winks’ DNA was again found on the window, and he was seen on CCTV selling a laptop at Cash Converters.

At an address on Sutherland Crescent, the occupant returned to find items strewn across the property after it had been broken into. Winks made off with credit cards, alcohol, clothing, an iPad and jewellery.

The court heard the total amount not recovered by police was £15,605.

Winks, a prisoner at HMP Perth, pleaded guilty via video link to breaking into the first Duntrune Terrace property with the intent of stealing between December 22 and January 2.

He committed the break-in at Sutherland Crescent on January 16.

Between December 29 and January 1, Winks stole dozens of items includin, medical equipment, a television, a computer, a bike, bottles of alcohol, power drills, an angle grinder, electrical equipment, passports, jewellery, hair straighteners, earphones and a magnum of champagne.

He also stole bags, wallets, piggy banks, car keys, a watch, a laptop, a games console and five bottles of whisky from a property on Fintry Place. on January 12

Sheriff Drummond jailed Winks for a total of 45 months.