No prison time for £28,000 van man

Thief broke into home then stole motor vehicle

A Larkhall thief who broke into a house and stole a key before taking a van worth £28,000 has escaped a jail term.

Alan Williamson had also taken a bank card and watches during the raid on Thomas and Sandra Blessing’s Machan Road home on November 4 last year.

When police officers intercepted and searched him, they found the couple’s son Ryan’s bank card, two watches from their house and the van’s key.

At a hearing last month, 30-yearold Williamson, of Nevison Street, had admitted a charge of breaking into the Machan Avenue property on November 4 last year and stealing the items while acting with others.

He also admitted a charge of maliciously breaking a window at a house in the town’s Wilson Street on December 2.

His not guilty plea to charges of driving without insurance and a driving licence, and hindering police officers were all accepted by the Crown.

The fiscal depute had told the court that the Blessings had been leaving their home for a medical appointment in Glasgow at 11.30am when they were approached by a young man with another male.

The young man asked to speak to their son Ryan, but Mr Blessing told him Ryan was not at home.

Mr Blessing asked the young man who he should tell his son had been calling and was told: ‘Jamie.’

A short time later, police received reports about a motor van. When officers attended near to where the van was last seen, Williamson was spotted coming out of the driver’s door and making off.

Officers stopped him a short distance away following a chase.

When searched he was found with Ryan Blessing’s bank card, two watches from the house and the van’s key.

Officers obtained the keeper’s details for the van and went to the Blessing’s Machan Road address.

They noticed that a glass panel on the front door of the property had been forced.

The bank card and watches – which were described by the fiscal depute as having “minimal value” – were returned to the Blessings. The van was worth £28,000.

Williamson had also admitted a charge of maliciously breaking a window at a house in the town’s Wilson Street on December 2.

At Hamilton Sheriff Court last week, Sheriff Marie Smart noted that there had been a “considerable gap” in Williamson’s offending and for that reason she would impose a noncustodial sentence.

Williamson was given a community payback order comprising 30 months’ supervision and 250 hours’ unpaid work, to be completed within 12 months.

She set a community payback order review for February 21.