Robbed OAP after dozing off in house

at HMP Perth, McMahon admitted forcing entry to a house in Dalrymple Street, Dundee, on July 26 this year and refusing to leave when requested.

His haul of stolen goods from the house also included two watches, a quantity of DVDs, two jumpers and a pair of shoes.

He also pled guilty to breaching a Perth court order, restricting him to his home from 7pm-7am, by being in Perth city centre at 7.25pm on August 17.

Further charges of being in possession of methadone and cannabis in the city’s York Place on August 17 this year were also admitted.

Depute fiscal Charmaine Gilmartin told the court the garden of the Dundee property was overgrown and it could be mistaken for being “vacant.”

The pensioner lived alone and had gone to bed, locking the doors.

But when he went downstairs at 9am, he saw the accused standing in the bathroom doorway.

The OAP went to a neighbour’s and asked to telephone the police.

When arrested, McMahon denied any involvement in the break-in but some of the stolen property was found in his home and more was located at a pawnbroker’s.

Solicitor Paul Ralph explained his client had been given a warning by police that his life was in danger and that had “spooked” him.

He had gone to Dundee and spent time with acquaintances who “took drugs” before ending up in Mr Marston’s house.

“He thought it was empty and had fallen asleep but the occupier came down and found him there.”

Sheriff Pino di Emidio jailed McMahon for a total of 169 days, backdated to August 19 – when he had been remanded.