Thief who handed himself in is locked up

offences: Young housebreaker felt an earlier sentence had been too lenient

A housebreaker handed himself in to police, feeling aggrieved he had not been given a custodial sentence for an earlier offence.

Andrew Scott, who, bizarrely, left a shoe at one of his crime scenes, was sent to a young offenders institution for 10 months yesterday after admitting stealing more than £8,000 worth of items from properties in Monifieth and the West End of Dundee.

Defence solicitor John Boyle told the court the 19-year-old felt he should have been sent to custody for an offence he committed on an earlier date.

He said: “I am at somewhat of a loss to give an explanation for these offences.

“He felt aggrieved he had not received a custodial sentence and felt he should have been sent to prison.

“He brought a bag to the first diet expecting to be put in custody. He felt he had not received a harsh enough sentence for the first offence.

“He committed two further offences on a later date and handed himself in to police. He had not been their person of interest at first.”

Scott pled guilty to breaking into two houses – on Panmurefield Road in Monifieth and Loganlee Terrace in the West End – at Dundee Sheriff Court on October 10.

“He felt aggrieved he had not received a custodial sentence and fel the should have been sent to prison. DEFENCE SOLICITOR JOHN BOYLE

He further admitted breaking bail conditions imposed on him by Forfar Sheriff Court.

The owners of the Monifieth property had been on holiday when Scott smashed his way in through a patio window before helping himself to items including a mobile phone, television, jewellery, cash and watches.

A laptop, aftershave and perfume, a wi-fi hub and an external hard drive were also taken.

The total value of his haul was estimated to be more than £8,000. The BT wi-fi hub was the only item recovered.

When searching their ransacked home, the owners discovered a shoe they did not recognise among the broken glass from their patio door.

The second home Scott targeted, on Loganlee Terrace, belonged to a 76-year-old woman.

The pensioner had gone to bed for the evening when Scott let himself in and stole her purse containing £5. There was no sign of forced entry.

Sheriff Alastair Carmichael sentenced Scott to nine months in custody in relation to the housebreaking charges and one month for the bail condition breach, to run consecutively.

These had been reduced from 12 months for the thefts and three months for the breach, after taking into consideration Scott’s early guilty plea and time already spent in custody.

He said: “I have come to the conclusion, rather reluctantly, that there is no appropriate sentence other than a custodial one.

“You pleaded guilty at the first diet, sparing your victims having to come to court.”

pamalik@thecourier.co.uk