Thief escapes jail for £9k break-in spree at city sites

A serial thief stole tools worth £9000 from a Perth office during a two-anda-half month crime spree which targeted buildings undergoing renovation or construction.

Twenty-nine-year-old Scott Lyon, said to be “selfmedicating” for his mental health problems by taking cannabis and alcohol, also targeted offices at Perth Crematorium, as well as new retail outlets being built at the St Catherine’s Retail Park.

But he escaped custody when he appeared for sentence on four break-in charges this week.

Sheriff Gillian Wade told him: “This is the sort of offending which would clearly attract a custodial sentence - and that’s what was at the forefront of my mind.

“But there are health reasons which cause me concern and make me consider whether prison is the right environment for you.

“It is also to your credit you have no criminal record.”

She ordered Lyon, of Logie Crescent, to pay £3000 in compensation towards the cost of the unrecovered tools taken from Qubit Interior Solutions, Saltire House, Whitefriars Crescent, Perth, between July 15 and 16, 2017.

He will also have to complete 225 hours of unpaid work in the next year and will be supervised by a social worker for the next three years.

Depute fiscal Robbie Brown said the accused stole £100 worth of building and other materials from Scotwood Interiors offices at Whitefriars Crescent on September 17 last year. They were later recovered.

Earlier, he had turned his attention to the St Catherine’s Retail Park where work was underway constructing new units.

They were surrounded by a seven-foot metal fence but Lyon got inside between September 1 and 2 last year, forcing open a Caterpillar digger and stealing a blue safety hat.

Next on his hit list was the council-run crematorium at Crieff Road.

It was being renovated and was surrounded by an eight-foot metal fence.

He was forced to flee empty handed after activating an alarm inside one of the offices there but was caught nearby.

Solicitor Jamie Baxter said: “The accused has a history of mental health issues.

“The offences occurred at a time when he wasn’t receiving medication and was taking cannabis and alcohol.”

He was now back on his prescribed medication and had been no further offending.