Housebreaker will miss son’s birth after he is put behind bars

A housebreaker who caused a court case to collapse by going on the run during the trial will miss his son’s birth - after being jailed for his crimes.

Mark McFadyen orginally went on trial at Paisley Sheriff Court earlier this year charged with breaking in to his new neighbour’s home and stealing her house keys.

McFadyen, 35, denied he stole Pauline Collins’ keys after breaking into her home in Waverley Road, Paisley.

Miss Collins, 48, gave evidence in his trial, telling the court she would have attacked him if he didn’t leave her home after she caught him in the act.

She called the police, with officers arriving “seconds” later - and detaining McFadyen around 200 yards away, in the street outside.

She said she later noticed her house keys, which contained four keys, a fob, and Rangers keyrings were missing.

When asked by defence solicitor Gordon Ritchie if the man who was in her home could have overpowered her if he wanted, due to her small frame and slight build, she replied: “It would still be difficult for him because I’d go for him.”

The court heard that Police Constable Gary Wilkie, who had not long finished his probation period searched McFadyen in the street, finding tin foil hidden in his right sock, and a tobacco grinder and a set of house keys in his pockets.

But they were his own house keys, and not those of Miss Collins.

And, the court heard, he was searched later by another officer, after he had been taken to the police station, and that her keys were found on him.

During his cross-examination of PC Wilkie, 24, said the lives of he and his colleagues could be placed in danger if he failed to search a suspect properly but that he could have made a mistake when searching McFadyen and missed the keys.

The case was adjourned for legal arguments one day, and McFadyen left the building and never returned - causing the trial to collapse.

A warrant was issued for his arrest, and he was detained in March this year and remanded in custody.

He pleaded guilty to failing to appear at court and, last month, pleaded guilty to breaking in to Miss Collins’ home with intent to steal.

After hearing that McFadyen had spent nine months on remand over the case, which is the equivalent of an 18-month jail term, the judge called for background reports to be prepared, adjourned the case.

When McFadyen returned to the dock to learn his fate, the judge ruled there was only one way he could deal with him - and locked him up for two-and-a-half years.

As he imposed the 30-month jail term, he said: “I am also imposing a Supervised Release Order, which is, in my view, required for protection of the public from you.”

The Supervised Release Order will see McFadyen monitored for 12 months in the community once he is released from prison.

The 30- month sentence was reduced from 48 months due to McFadyen’s guilty plea and the time he spent on remand over the case.

The jail term means he will miss the birth of his baby son.