Man jailed for break-in and van theft

Forced way into showroom

A thief who broke into a Stirling city car showroom and stole a Transit van was last week jailed for eight months.

Macaulay Hughes, 24, whose address was given as Springkerse House homeless unit, admitted forcing his way into Park’s of Hamilton’s Kerse Road premises on September 17 this year and stealing the van as well as two laptops, a camera, jacket and a quantity of tools - as well as a charge of driving without insurance.

Hughes further pleaded guilty to breaking into a Top of the Town convenience store on August 19 and stealing booze, juice and milkshakes. He was on bail on both occasions.

Fiscal depute Rachel Wallace told Stirling Sheriff Court when Park’s general manager left on the evening of September 17 the premises had been locked and secured.

However, at 11.15pm a witness became aware of an alarm activation at the premises and made his way there.

Another witness had been walking home on Kerse Road and heard the sound of an engine coming from Park’s premises, Ms Wallace added.

As he walked by the showroom he saw a black Ford Transit van with no lights on attempting to reverse up a grass embankment near the locked entrance barrier.

When the first witness arrived at the scene, he saw the van moving back and forth within the forecourt, said the fiscal depute.

He approached the van and Hughes got out of the vehicle. He told the witness he lived at Springkerse House and a friend had asked him to pick up the vehicle.

Hughes went back to the van to pick up a plastic bag which contained a number of items and walked off in the direction of Springkerse House.

Police went to Springkerse House and were told one resident, Macaulay Hughes, had recently returned to the unit, but had since left and the officers drove back to the car dealer.

They were waved down by Hughes who stated: “It’s me you are looking for. My pal gave me the keys to pick up the van, but the gate was shut, so I left it.”

Hughes was placed in the rear of a police car. Officers established a showroom glass door had been smashed and the rear fire exit door left wide open.

When arrested he replied: “I got arrested for f*** all.”

Hughes was asked to identify the van’s driver and said: “It was me obviously.”

Officers searched the route Hughes had taken and found a plastic bag concealed in a bush. It contained a Park’s of Hamilton jacket, two laptops, a camera, and a toolbox with a drill and tools. These items were worth £925.

The court also heard officers had been alerted to a break-in and theft at U Save in St Mary’s Wynd by a witness who told them she saw Hughes inside the store.

A short time later Hughes was seen leaving the store carrying bottles and heading in the direction of nearby Barn Road.

Police attended and detected the accused less than 100 metres from the store with two boxes and a bag.

Officers noticed U Save’s door lock had been broken. When Hughes was arrested and cautioned, he replied: “I’m sorry.”

He was taken to Falkirk Police Office and then charged.

The goods stolen were worth £139.86 and recovered.

His agent Frazer Mccready said Hughes, originally from the Merseyside area, had stolen the van because he wanted to leave Scotland and return home.

Sheriff Wyllie Robertson sentenced Hughes to eight months’ imprisonment reduced from 12 months due to his early plea backdated to September 21 for the Park’s thefts.

He was admonished on the driving while disqualified charge and banned from driving for a year. A community payback order comprising 18 months’ supervision was imposed for the U Save break-in and theft.