Serial thief jailed for two years after crime spree

A drug addict who broke into a Kirkcaldy house and repeatedly targeted shops has been jailed for two years.

Craig Paterson, 32, a prisoner at Perth, went on a crime spree when his drug taking spiralled out of control.

He admitted a string of offences when he appeared at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

Paterson pleaded guilty to stealing perfumes worth £120 from Boots in Fife Central Retail Park, Kirkcaldy, on December 11.

On December 20 he stole a bank card from a house on Kennedy Crescent, Kirkcaldy, and then used a debit card to obtain £10 of goods by fraud from the Shell garage on Hendry Road, Kirkcaldy.

He also admitted stealing fragrances valued at £366, £722 and £222 on January 4, 7 and 8 from Debenhams, High Street, Kirkcaldy.

Depute fiscal Dev Kapadia said Paterson was spotted on CCTV at the Boots store stealing fragrances.

Police were called to view the video and identified Paterson as the thief.

The bank card was stolen from a bedside table and then used to buy tobacco from the garage.

The card holder contacted his bank when he noticed the card was missing and was told a transaction had been made on it.

Defence solicitor Christine Hagan said her client had a long-standing drug problem and was using heroin “on a very regular basis”.

He needed to find more money when there was a shortage of heroin and he started taking cocaine instead, she added.

Sheriff David Mackie jailed Paterson for 24 months.