Thief undone by company software on iPad

A career criminal was told at Perth Sheriff Court that the theft of hundreds of pounds worth of computer and electrical equipment from a local business was“no mean feat” considering the premises had been protected by security grilles.

But bungling William Gillilan then took one of the stolen iPads to a local pawn shop - only to discover it had company software still running on it.

The police were contacted and he was jailed for a total of 14 months this week after he admitted breaking into The Cutting Room, run by Nicola McFadyen, in Cow Vennel between July 11 and 12, 2018, and stealing the items, along with scales and cash.

Depute fiscal Michael Sweeney said the premises had been secured by a member of staff who left work at 8.45pm on July 11.

“There was no sign of damage when she left.”

Later that night, a member of the public noticed one of the grilles was lying on the ground and then the break-in was discovered at 8.30am the following morning.

About 10.45am on July 12, Gillilan, of Princes Street, had gone to Trading Places -“effectively a pawn shop,” explained the fiscal - with one of the iPads and the set of scales.

A member of staff there“became alarmed”on discovering the company software on it.

When interviewed by police, the accused claimed he had found the iPad in a carrier bag hidden in bushes at the nearby Matalan car park.

The value of the items recovered totalled £800 but £700 worth, including hair straighteners and dryers, remained unaccounted for.

Solicitor David Holmes said the accused had been fighting a drug problem for some time and had taken a substance that day that he wasn’t used to.“He knows your lordship has one destination for him today.”

Gillilan, who admitted a raft of previous convictions, was told by Sheriff William Wood: “Clearly you are a routine customer of the court in relation to matters of this type.”