Thief jailed after crime spree and dealing drugs

Andew Pattie admitted breaking into sheds and stealing hot tubs and other items, including Beatles memorabilia

A thief has been jailed for more than three-and-a-half years for repeatedly breaking into sheds and stealing inflatable hot tubs and other items.

Andrew Pattie was already in hot water when he started his three-week crime spree after being caught dealing drugs from his flat in Dundee.

Weeks before his break-ins last November, Pattie was found dealing heroin from the flat he shared with his partner in Dundee’s Hilltown Court after she overdosed and died.

Police investigating the death found more than £30,000 worth of heroin in the flat and evidence Pattie had been dealing.

After being bailed in relation to the drugs charges Pattie carried out nine thefts in the space of three weeks across Dundee

Depute fiscal Charmaine Gilmartin told the Dundee Sheriff Court: “These offences demonstrate the accused participating in a course of conduct entering vehicles and outbuildings in the early hours of the morning over the period.

“He would leave his home in the early hours of the morning over that period and return with items he had stolen.

“It was often power tools but also included items like inflatable hot tubs, car badges, Beatles memorabilia and alcohol miniatures.”

The hot tubs were stolen from addresses in Clattowoods Place, St Ninians Terrace and Tweed Crescent over the course of five days in November.

Only one was found – with Pattie being linked to the crime after a glove with his DNA inside it was found where he had dumped the hot tub.

Narrating the drug dealing charge, Mrs Gilmartin added: “Police were called to the sudden death of his partner at the address on September 11.

“The locus was secured for further enquiry and during a search a significant quantity of drugs were found.

“In total 671.2 grams of heroin were found with a potential street value of £33,560.”

Pattie, 25, a prisoner at HMP Perth, pleaded guilty on indictment to nine theft charges committed in November 2017 and being concerned in the supply of heroin on September 11 last year.

Defence solicitor David Duncan said: “He knows people in the area and it would not be difficult for him to move these items on. “He accepts custody is inevitable.” He added: “He will take a long time to recover from what has occurred.”

Sheriff Alastair Brown jailed Pattie for three years and seven months.

Andrew Pattie was jailed for three years and seven months.