Addict raided charity shops to feed habit
Sheriff considers court-ordered rehab programme
A thief fed his heroin habit by sparking a shoplifting spree at town centre charity shops.
William Peacock, 52, swiped kitchen utensils, glasses and specs during raids on worthy causes.
He was warned to get clean or face spending the rest of his life in and out of jail.
Peacock admitted targeting stores during a hearing at Paisley Sheriff Court.
Sheriff Craig Harris was told the crook had been manipulated by other addicts who steal his benefits when he is high.
He said: “You must realise, if you keep coming back here the court will run out of options and the last one is just to keep sending you back to prison again and again and again.
“That’s where you will serve out the remainder of your time, in prison cell to prison cell to prison cell.
“If you have people around you making you make bad decisions, keep them away.
“Stay away from these people, stay out of trouble.”
Peacock targeted three charity shops on the same day.
He stole kitchen equipment from Debra before swiping glasses from the Salvation Army and spectacles and household goods from Cancer Research.
Police recovered the loot after he was nabbed following the spree in Paisley on August 17.
Defence lawyer Rhona Lynch insisted her client had been taken advantage of due to his drug habit.
She said: “His behaviour has given me considerable concern over whether he is able to instruct a solicitor.
“He operates in the range of somebody with a learning disability.
“His sister looks after him on a regular basis when he is in the community.
“She makes sure there is food in the fridge. “He’s a vulnerable man. “Persons come into his flat and take drugs with him and take his money. “He has a long record. “He commits petty shoplifting, he has been involved in this cycle for a number of years.
“I do not think there would be anything constructive to be gained for Mr Peacock or the public if he was simply locked up.”
Peacock has been given a chance to kick his habit.
He could be placed on a costly drug treatment and testing order designed to wean him off illicit substances.
Sheriff Craig Harris called for tests to find out if he is fit for the court-ordered rehab programme.
He added: “There are two reports before the court suggesting a drug treatment and testing order is of some assistance.
“I have some hesitation about it. “The reports suggest this may be something he is able to do and could break his cycle of offending.
“You must understand this is quite difficult to go through.
“The whole point of it is to get you off drugs. “Don’t let me down.” Peacock has been ordered to return to court on November 5.