Cinderella thief admits break-in

A 37-year-old man who lost his shoe while breaking in to a Dundee business has admitted stealing various items.

Douglas Laidlaw, formerly of Soapwork Lane House, Dundee, admitted punching and kicking his way into a Dundee Specsavers store before making off with an iPad, silver coins, a quantity of glasses and a lens case.

The theft happened on August 27.

On Tuesday, Dundee Sheriff Court was told Laidlaw forced open a hole in the door of the Murraygate outlet before clambering inside.

CCTV footage showed him going into examination rooms and “forcibly removing” an iPad.

When he was stopped by police, Laidlaw was missing a sock and shoe on one foot and complained of having a swollen ankle.

He left such a trail of destruction at the shop that Specsavers was forced to close briefly. The court was told the loss of business as a result of Laidlaw’s actions amounted to an estimated £10,000.

Hundreds of pounds was also spent removing the blood stains he left behind.

Sheriff Alastair Brown told Laidlaw he would be entitled to sentence him to five years in prison, but said it was in both his and the public’s interest if he did not reoffend.

Instead, Sheriff Brown deferred sentence until December 14 to gain criminal and social work reports.