Man jailed for stealing cop car after break-in
Handcuffs, uniform , radios and stun sprays also taken
A serial offender whose crimes included breaking into a police station has been jailed for seven years at Hamilton Sheriff Court.
Lee Mcclinton made off in an unmarked police vehicle after ransacking the station in Blantyre.
He also stole handcuffs, a kit bag containing a police uniform, two radios, sprays used to incapacitate suspects and a notebook.
Mcclinton (29), of Logan Street, Blantyre, admitted breaking into the police station on January 5 last year and illegal possession of a stun gun near his home while on bail in March.
He also admitted stealing a Porsche car, an LDV van, a safe containing £1000 and other items after breaking into Spanners and Sparks in Rockhampton Avenue, East Kilbride, in October 2015.
Michael Mcintosh, prosecuting, said officers locked up the police station at 12.40am. Three hours later, the alarm went off and it was discovered that the back door had been forced open.
Various desks had been opened and their contents spilled on the floor. A police vehicle was missing from the yard and patrols were ordered to look out for it.
Officers later spotted the vehicle in Blantyre and gave pursuit. It was driven through a narrow gate into Kirkton Park, causing damage to the vehicle.
The police car chasing it was too wide to negotiate the gate, but the stolen vehicle was found a short time later, abandoned in Broompark Road. Its number plate and a wing mirror were recovered in the park.
Various pieces of police equipment, including body armour and a baton, had been dumped on a grass verge and were also recovered.
Mr Mcintosh told the court: “A screwdriver found in the police station had DNA which led the police to Mcclinton. In addition, CCTV showed a person wearing a distinctive black and white Lacoste tracksuit entering the stolen vehicle. Mcclinton’s home was searched and such a tracksuit was found.”
In relation to the East Kilbride break-in, Mr Mcintosh said Mcclinton was caught thanks to CCTV which showed him at the scene. Both stolen vehicles were recovered by the police, but the safe and cash were not.
Defence agent Ali Murray said Mcclinton, who has a girlfriend and a child aged four, had stolen to fund his “very significant” cocaine habit.
Mr Murray added that his client has been getting treatment for his drug problem since being remanded in custody in November.
The solicitor added: “He is now a very different individual and wishes to apologise to all parties affected by his wanton behaviour.”
Sheriff Marie Smart expressed concern at Mcclinton’s lengthy criminal record and told him: “These are serious offences particularly the police station break-in. Items were taken and discarded which could have fallen into the wrong hands.”
The sheriff jailed him for three years for that, two years for the other break-in and two years for having a stun gun.
She ruled that all sentences would run consecutively, making seven years in total.