Drug addict made off with charity box from hospital

A drug addict stole a charity box from a hospital containing donations of up to £3,000 for Guide Dogs for the Blind.

James Henderson had been spotted lurking about suspiciously before walking out of Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline, carrying the metre-wide box.

A disgusted sheriff branded the theft as “foul” as he jailed him for eight months.

Henderson, 39, of Golfdrum Street, Dunfermline, admitted the theft.

Depute fiscal Azrah Yousaf told Dunfermline Sheriff Court the charity box was almost full when it was stolen and it was estimated it would have contained up to £3,000 in donations.

“At around 7.40pm one of the hospital security guards became aware of the accused in the minor injuries unit,” said the depute.

“He was concerned about his demeanour and asked a colleague to keep an eye on him.

“At 8.45pm a person driving in Whitefield Road saw the accused with the box.”

Henderson was apprehended following a public appeal.

He told police: “I was going to try to take it back to James Bank Hostel but thought that might be a bit dodgy so I burst it open.”

He admitted to officers the charity box was “full to the gunnels”.

Henderson, unemployed, claimed he had used the money to pay off drugs debts and kept £50 for himself.

Defence solicitor Lynsay Magro said her client had been addicted to heroin for 20 years.