Thief caught trying to sell stolen iPods

A former Scotland youth footballer turned to crime to feed his drug habit after suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder following four years of army service.

In his latest brush with the law, 30-year-old Perth man Andrew Shaw was caught red-handed as he tried to sell two stolen iPods, worth hundreds of pounds, in a city centre shop.

The former Scotland U16 and Hearts youth player was captured on CCTV stealing the devices from two cars, parked just a stone’s throw from Perth prison, where he has been remanded.

But the owners had alerted local shops - and when Shaw returned with ID to the CEX outlet in the St John’s Centre, he was nabbed by police.

He had been kept in custody while a background report was prepared.

But Sheriff William Wood agreed to defer sentence further to see if he is suitable to carry out a Drug Treatment and Testing Order - and avoid jail.

Shaw admitted stealing the IPods from unlocked cars in Manson Terrace, Perth, on January 28 this year.

He had a not guilty plea accepted to a further charge of attempting to enter another insecure vehicle in Manson Terrace the same morning in a bid to steal from it.

Depute fiscal John Malpass said a black Renault Clio and a blue Honda Civic had been parked by the owners in their driveway, an area covered by private CCTV.

The next morning, items were seen strewn across the front seats of the cars and the iPods, worth £250 and £300, were missing.

Footage showed a person, later identified as the accused, rummaging about in both vehicles about 5am.

Trading Places, in South Street, and CEX, in the city centre, were alerted in case someone tried to sell them on.

An assistant in CEX became suspicious when the accused came in with two iPods. He was arrested when he returned to the store with identification to complete the sale.

Solicitor David Holmes said his client hadn’t made any financial gain as both devices had been recovered.

Shaw had been jailed for two years in January, 2016, after embarking on a five-month crime spree.

He stole televisions, a fishing rod, sat-navs, and nearly £2,000 in cash and cheques as he broke into nine cars and a caravan park office.

The court was told on that occasion that his life had spiralled out of control when he left the army.

After failing to make the breakthrough in senior football and suffering post-traumatic stress as a result of military service, he developed“a multitude of drug issues.”

Solicitor David Holmes urged the court this week to consider his client for a DTTO.

Deferring sentence until June 21, Sheriff Wood noted that communitybased disposals had been tried in the past but he had ended up behind bars.

“You served in the military and were discharged almost nine years ago.

“That’s a long time to be riding on the difficulties during your four years in the Army. I am sympathetic but the time has come for you to face up to your difficulties - and address them - otherwise it will be a revolving door of prison.”

Shaw was warned that if the DTO assessment didn’t “go well,”he faced another custodial sentence.