NURSERY THIEF DESERVES PRISON SENTENCE
Despicable crook ransacked pre-five centre and stole children’s money
A heartless thief who ransacked a children’s nursery in a devastating break-in has been caged.
Gary Graham, 31, targeted Glencoats Lodge Nursery in Paisley’s Ferguslie Park and stole the children’s £600 fundraising money from a safe.
Graham also stole the teaching staff’s android tablets, an iPad and a Hewlett Packard laptop in the break-in. He completely trashed the premises, knocking holes in the walls and leaving a trail of destruction.
The sentence was welcomed by the nursery manager, Jessica Collin, who said: “He caused a right mess here.”
Procurator Fiscal Depute Sarah Healing told Paisley Sheriff Court how Graham waited until after
staff had locked up the nursery on the evening of 13 August last year, before breaking in.
She said: “The following morning, the manager attended to open the premises when she observed the two main doors had been forced open.
“She noticed someone had been in the property.
“On further inspection she discovered a number of items had been stolen and the premises had been ransacked, at which point she contacted police.
“Police and scenes of crimes officers attended where they found a red stain on a wall next to the safe from which £600 had been stolen.
“DNA analysis was carried out to establish the owner of the red stain now identified as blood.
“CCTV was examined, however, Graham was wearing a jacket with his hood up a scarf over his face.
“The DNA was identified as belonging to the accused and police visited his home address on October 3 where he was detained and taken to Govan Police Office.
“However he made no reply to caution or charge.”
Yesterday, Graham of Tannahill Road, also Ferguslie Park in the town, appeared from custody where he pleaded guilty to charges of housebreaking and repeated breaches of bail.
The court heard the accused had made off with the children’s cash and stole than £ 2,000 worth of computer equipment, which was not recovered.
No costs of the extensive damage he caused was given the prosecution during the hearing.
Defence agent Bob Kerr said Graham was high on a cocktail of booze and etizolam know as ‘street Valium’ when he carried out the rampage.
He said: “At the time he broke into this nursery he was taking street valium and alcohol.
“Your lordship knows the effects that street valium will have on people’s conduct and capacities.
“It seems to lead to a loss of inhibition. “He is very ashamed at his behaviour. “Especially given the premises involved and the effects of the offence on the children and staff involved.”
Sheriff David Pender said there was only one sentence suitable for Graham when he appeared in the dock to learn of his fate.
He said: “Well, you have two previous offences for housebreaking or attempted housebreaking.
“This was a nasty offence.
“You broke into a children’s nursery which doesn’t have a great deal of money and stole items and money from them.
“This was miserable offence and I can only deal with this by imposing a custodial sentence.”
He jailed Graham for a total of 13 months for the break-in and his bail offences.
Yesterday, nursery manager Jessica Collin, 25, hit out at the destruction he caused, but she added she was happy he has been locked up.
She said: “He caused a right mess here. “He knocked holes in walls. He ransacked the place and stole children’s fundraising money.
“It was a big mess. He even stole our tablets and iPads. However the community all came together and helped us a lot for the children.
“I am just glad to hear that he was caught and has been punished by the courts. It’s good to know he has been dealt with for what he did.”