Thief could not do unpaid work as it was ‘too cold’

A thief has been jailed after telling a sheriff he could not do community payback because it was too cold for him to work outside.

Garry Broome claimed he could not carry out unpaid work because the weather did not agree with him during the winter and early spring months.

Yesterday, a sheriff ran out of patience with Broome and jailed him after telling him he had been given numerous chances to avoid a prison term.

Broome – who managed to overcome his dislike of winter weather to go out stealing in October and January – was jailed for six months.

Sheriff Gillian Wade told him: “These were serious offences and you have been given numerous opportunities to comply with the order.”

Broome, 41, of Brahan Terrace, Perth, admitted breaking into Dicksons of Perth car showroom and stealing £1,400 cash on October 1 2016.

He also admitted he was intending to steal from the Arnold Clark showroom in the city on January 4 2017 and was originally given unpaid work last year as an alternative to custody.

Perth Sheriff Court was told that Broome had done none of the work the sheriff had ordered and he admitted breaching it.

Solicitor David Holmes, defending, said: “He certainly should have known the work should have been done. He has not been able to address matters because of health issues.

“He suffers from asthma, although not formally diagnosed. He doesn’t have any formal treatment and the cold weather has had a particular impact and he’s not been able to do the hours.

“It was a particularly cold winter into spring. He said he would be able to perform work in the summer months.

“The social work report indicates that is not something that is appropriate without a medical report to vouch for it.”

Sheriff Wade said: “If the health information was correct he would have had to submit a medical report and he has not done that. He has really done nothing in terms of the unpaid work.

“He hasn’t provided medical vouching, even though that is something he has asked you to make a submission about.

“He has had numerous failures to attend and he hasn’t given any evidence to the social work department that he has any intention of doing any work.

“The conclusion is that he fails to grasp the serious nature of his actions.”