Angry teenager stole mum’s wedding ring

Youth pawned mother’s jewellery because of her relationship with his stepfather

A teenager is facing a custodial sentence after he stole his mother’s wedding ring and pawned it.

Aidan Mcardle stole the ring and other jewellery and valuables because he had never forgiven his mother for her relationship with his stepfather.

Mcardle’s lawyer claimed the 19-yearold “will not rest” until he sees the man behind bars for what he claimed was mistreatment when he was growing up.

Dundee Sheriff Court heard Mcardle had moved out of his mother’s home when he was 13 and gone to live with his father.

Depute fiscal Charmaine Gilmartin said that he moved back into his mother’s home on November 17 last year.

On January 21 this year his mother noticed several items of jewellery, a television and a power tool were missing.

Mrs Gilmartin said: “Other items were also missing but other people had access to the house during that time.”

She said a gold wedding ring valued at £2,000, a charm bracelet also worth £2,000 and a gold chain worth £300 were stolen and pawned by Mcardle. He got £80 for the wedding ring, £250 for the bracelet and £65 for the chain from the pawnbroker, she said. In addition, he was given £25 for the television by Cash Convertors.

None of the items were recovered and the pawnbrokers said they would investigate, but it was likely the items would have been melted down for the gold.

Mcardle, 19, of Commercial Street, Dundee, pleaded guilty to stealing the items from an address in Bennan Gardens, Broughty Ferry, between November 17 last year and January 21 this year.

Mcardle’s lawyer, Ian Houston, told the court his client had been abused for several years by his stepfather and he had never forgiven him or his mother for allowing the abuse to happen.

He added: “He says he will not rest until he sees his stepfather behind bars, that’s how badly he feels towards him.”

Mr Houston said it was a sad case and Mcardle was an intelligent young man.

He said his stepfather appeared in his life when he was only six years old.

Mr Houston added: “He had a terrible time with his stepfather and he’s never forgiven him and never forgiven his mother.”

He said Mcardle had been working as a charity fundraiser prior to his detention on this matter but admitted: “His record does give cause for concern.”

Sheriff Lorna Drummond QC said she would call for reports but as he was on two bail orders she was not going to give him bail and remanded him in custody.

She deferred sentence until March 29 for a social work background report and a restriction of liberty order assessment.

“He had a terrible time with his stepfather and he’s never forgiven him and never forgiven his mother.

DEFENCE LAWYER IAN HOUSTON