Former carer to face five more charges

A former carer, accused of targeting vulnerable pensioners in an alleged two-week“crime spree,”is set to face a further five offences.

Thirty-five-year-old Tomasz Lacki, of Murrayfield Loan, Crieff, faced a catalogue of charges linking him to care homes and sheltered housing in both Perth and Crieff following his latest appearance at Perth Sheriff Court.

But the court was told the eight-charge complaint would be increased to 13.

He is accused of being found at properties in Perth’s Carpenter Court and Bowerswell Road, as well as Glenogle Court, Dallerie Road and Duchlage Court, all Crieff, in circumstances under which it might reasonably be assumed that he intended to commit theft there.

He is also said to have stolen a wallet and its contents from a flat in Carpenter Court and a purse and its contents from Strathearn Court, Crieff.

A further charge claims he was in possession of heroin at his home.

Lacki denied all the charges, said to have taken place between September 11 and 25, 2019, and his case was continued to a further hearing on Thursday (October 17).

At a previous hearing, depute fiscal Matthew Kerr explained that the allegations were that the accused had been targeting vulnerable people, many of whom have dementia, limited mobility and are aged 88 or older.

He said that the accused was on a “crime spree”- and the public needed protection from him.

Solicitor Billy Somerville said his client had been in this country for five years and had no convictions.

He asked for bail but Sheriff William Wood remanded him in custody, explaining there may be a“risk”to the public if he was granted his freedom.

A trial date has already been scheduled for October 29 but there is a possibility the case could be resolved without evidence being led.