Poppy tin thief abused police

A callous crook, high on valium, stole a poppy collection charity tin from a Perth shop while awaiting sentence for other crimes.

And when 33-year-old Barry McQuaid was arrested three days later, he kicked off at police and subjected them to a tirade of abuse.

SheriffWilliamWood branded his actions “despicable”when he appeared for sentence on Wednesday.

But he held back from jailing him, stating:“You have made some progress and are addressing your drug issues.”

As an alternative to prison time, the accused had a 10-week Restriction of Liberty Order imposed.

He will be tagged and will be restricted to him home from 7pm-7am, seven days a week.

McQuaid, of Cluny Terrace, admitted stealing the collection tin and its contents from Baynes Bakery in Perth’s Rannoch Road, on October 23, 2019.

He then shouted and swore and acted aggressively towards police in Campsie Road on October 26, 2019.

Depute fiscal Matthew

Kerr told the court previously that staff were working in the shop shortly after 6am when the accused asked for a free cup of coffee.

“He said he was due one but didn’t have his loyalty card.”

There was a poppy appeal charity tin sitting on the counter at the time.

The staff member turned her back to get the coffee, handed it to him and he left.

Ten minutes later another customer came in and asked the assistant to put any change into the charity tin - but it was no longer there.

About 2am the next morning, police received an anonymous telephone call that the tin had been dumped in a wheelie bin in a local garden.

On October 26, officers on patrol in Letham spotted the accused who matched the description of the person suspected of stealing the tin.

“He was stopped and was informed he would be detained for a search,”added the fiscal.

“He was handcuffed to the front but started acting aggressively, shouting and swearing in one of their faces.”

When cautioned and charged with the theft, he replied:“It wisnae me.”

Solicitor Pauline Cullerton said:“He felt aggrieved at being stopped by the police as he had done nothing wrong.”

He was under the influence of valium at the time but was going for a detox the following week.

McQuaid was also on a methadone prescription.

Referring this week to the valium and methadone, McQuaid told the sheriff:“All that’s stopped.

“I’m absolutely ashamed of what I have done.”

He said he was now seeking gardening and construction work.

Sheriff Wood told the accused:“This was a despicable offence, stealing a charity tin from a bakery.”

And it was“compounded” by the things he had said when he was approached by police.

But in view of the progress McQuaid had made with substance abuse, he was prepared to impose a tagging order instead of jail.