Addict stole handbag from a pensioner

A Perth addict effectively mugged a 73-year-old woman in broad daylight in the grounds of a local library, snatching her handbag and running off.

The pensioner thought it was a friend who had tugged on her bag, which was over her left shoulder, as she headed home via the AK Bell Library in York Place.

That caused her to relax her grip, Perth Sheriff Court was told.

The accused immediately legged it in the direction of Leonard Street, leaving the OAP “traumatised”.

But 30-year-old David Edevane had been spotted in the area on CCTV and was later traced at his home.

His actions were branded “despicable” by Sheriff Lindsay Foulis when he appeared for sentence on Wednesday.

But he escaped a jail term because of his lack of record.

Had he been prosecuted for an earlier theft from his employers which, to all intents and purposes was embezzlement, he might have ended up behind bars for tnewshis latest offence.

Edevane, now of King Edward Street, admitted stealing the handbag - and its contents - from the victim in the library grounds on August 14.

Depute fiscal Craig Donald said the incident took place about 1pm as she carried food shopping in her right hand and her handbag in the other.

The accused managed to pull the bag away from her without a struggle after she relaxed her arm.

As he made off she started screaming but managed to compose herself sufficiently and went to a nearby bookmaker’s shop where she raised the alarm.

“There was a CCTV review and from that police were able to identify the accused as the person involved,” added the fiscal.

The bag contained around £60, as well as other personal items. A total of £20 had been recovered. Solicitor Paul Ralph said from the CCTV footage, police were able to track his client to the Greyfriars Hostel where he had been staying at the time.

Edevane had subsequently cooperated with officers, taking them to the South Inch where he had disposed of the bag.

Some of the items, including a diary and other personal items, had been water damaged.

“He has an addiction problem but is now receiving a prescription.”

Sheriff Foulis told the accused: “You will appreciate that this is a mugging effectively.

“It was a robbery in all but name. It’s really a quite despicable offence.”

The sheriff also expressed surprise that an earlier incident, which involved the accused stealing from his employers, had been dealt with by way of a fiscal fine.

Although it wasn’t embezzlement, it was “a very close next door neighbour.”

If that matter had been prosecuted, coupled with the handbag theft, he “might” have found his liberty being taken away from him.

Edevane was ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work within six months and will be supervised for the next nine months.

He will also have to pay £40 compensation to the pensioner.

Sheriff Foulis warned him: “This is a direct alternative to custody.

“If you breach the order, you will have a pretty good idea what will happen to you.” and the imposition of communitybased disposals doesn’t seem to get the message through to folk.” that police received an anonymous telephone call about 10.25pm telling them of a party in her house - and that the noise was “excessive”.

Officers attended and they could hear raised voices and loud music.

The window was wide open and the accused was seen “slamming it shut”.

Buchan was told she was being arrested for breaching the ASBO but she said: “It wasn’t loud music and it wasn’t me shouting. “It was people within the house.” Solicitor Louisa Wade said it was the accused’s first tenancy and she was just 17 at the time.

She had since been re-housed to an area close to other family members and was receiving more support.

“She really got off on the wrong foot with an elderly neighbour who made various complaints about her,” explained the lawyer.

Sheriff Lindsay Foulis conceded that different generations didn’t necessarily see “eye to eye”.

But he added: “If you are given your own tenancy, it imposes certain obligations on you.

“If you are in flatted accommodation, it doesn’t give you carte blanche to do what you want.

“People have got to live. - not to have their lives disrupted because a teenager becomes a tenant in a block.”

Buchan will have to complete 80 hours of unpaid work within the next four months.