Addict went to cops after shoplifting
A drug addict who broke into a neighbour’s house and stole hundreds of pounds worth of goods to finance his heroin habit was jailed for a total of 14 months at Perth Sheriff Court this week.
Thirty-nine-year-old serial thief Simon O’Neill, of Norlands, Errol, went voluntarily to Perth police HQ to confess to the crime.
He is currently serving an eight-month sentence for shoplifting imposed at the same court last month.
The latest jail term will be served consecutive to that time behind bars.
O’Neill admitted breaking into a flat at 5 Norlands, occupied by Stewart Lewis, on June 5 or 6 this year and stealing a laptop, a TV and a Blu Ray player when he appeared on indictment this week.
He also stole four packets of razor blades from Boots, in Perth High Street, on May 12 this year.
He was subject to a May 5, 2018, bail order from the Perth court at the time.
The court was told that the accused admitted having a heroin problem and that he“committed crimes”to finance it.
Depute fiscal John Malpass said the husband and wife who live in the flat had left on June 4 to go on holiday.
The premises were locked and secured and another neighbour had been asked to water the plants in their front and back gardens.
About 6.30pm on June 6, the neighbour noticed the bathroom window had been had been smashed and was“wide open.”
The fiscal added:“She returned to her home address and called the police.”
About 7pm the following evening, O’Neill went to Perth police HQ and told custody staff he“wanted to admit to some thefts.”
He told officers:“Last Monday I went into Boots and stole blades.”
He then added:“I smashed my neighbour’s back window and then climbed in and stole a TV, a Blu Ray player and a laptop.”
The accused then revealed he had gone to Trading Places, in Perth’s South Street, where he had sold some of the items for £80.
The laptop and Blu Ray player were recovered from the shop but the television, valued at £400, wasn’t found.
The razor blades, worth £37.98, weren’t recovered.
He was captured on CCTV putting the stolen items in a paper bag he was carrying.
O’Neill, who was represented by local lawyer Billy Somerville, admitted eight pages of previous convictions, several for offences of dishonesty.