Thief who had trolley full of drink is jailed

A hapless thief who carried out a midnight raid on Marks & Spencer in Perth was caught by police pushing a trolley filled with more than £800 worth of booze.

Serial shoplifter Stephen Strain smashed his way into the city centre shop and plundered the alcohol aisle.

The bottles were recovered, but M&S was left with a repair bill of more than £1,300.

Strain, 40, appeared at Perth Sheriff Court and admitted the break-in during the early hours of December 11 last year.

He also admitted assaulting a police officer in nearby North Port, after he caught him walking up the street with an M&Sbranded trolley.

Strain, listed as an inmate at Perth Prison, was jailed for a year.

“I’m deeply ashamed,” he told the court.

Depute fiscal Michael Sweeney said: “At around 2.35am, the accused was on Mill Street, Perth.

“He smashed two large glass doors to gain entry to the Marks & Spencer store.”

Strain grabbed a trolley and filled it up in the alcohol aisle, the prosecutor said.

Mr Sweeney said: “At 2.50am, a call was received from the alarm company.

“Police were made aware of this.

“They traced the accused close to North Port in Perth.

“He was found with the M&S trolley full of bottles of alcohol, with security tags still in place.”

The court heard officers took hold of Strain and led him to their van.

Mr Sweeney said: “At this point, the accused stamped on the foot of PC Scott Christie.

“He was challenging him to a fight.

“The accused was told to calm down.

“As he was placed into the rear of the police vehicle, he kicked PC Christie to the chest.”

Mr Sweeney said the shop raid was captured on CCTV.

Sheriff Mark Stewart told Strain: “In the circumstances, a custodial disposal is the only option that is available to the court.”