Ex-Scotland footballer jailed for drug-fuelled three-year crime spree

Sheriff runs out of patience with man granted bail on 10 occasions

“Drugs have been the root of his problems. He had been in the Army and had some mental health issues on his discharge

A former youth football star has been jailed for two years after committing 18 offences during a three-year-long drugfuelled crimewave.

Andrew Shaw, who played for Hearts and Scotland at youth level, was eventually jailed after being granted bail 10 times during the crime spree.

Sheriff William Wood told Shaw, from Fechney Park, Perth, that he had run out of patience and had no option but to give him a lengthy spell behind bars.

The 32-year-old admitted 18 separate offences dating back to November 2016 when he stole a charity box from a branch of Greggs in Perth.

The former footballer and soldier claimed his behaviour had been partly sparked by post traumatic stress disorder as a result of his military service.

During the past three years he has broken into numerous cars and stolen items including cash, a satnav, a can of juice and an accordion. Shaw also admitted breaching bail and being in several buildings in circumstances which showed he planned to commit theft.

He also used a stolen debit card to try to buy tobacco and was caught with cannabis as the crime spree continued throughout 2018 and into this year.

On June 20 this year, he admitted threatening and abusive behaviour against housing staff by shouting and swearing and uttering threats towards them.

By the time he committed the final offence on July 4 he was subject to 10 individual bail orders imposed in July, September and November 2017, January, August, and October 2018, and April and June this year.

On that date he behaved in a threatening and abusive manner at Perth Royal Infirmary by repeatedly shouting and swearing at police officers.

Perth Sheriff Court was told he had been granted bail time after time since July 2017 when he was placed on a drug treatment and testing order.

Solicitor David Holmes, defending, said: “There are a number of bail orders. His record is for thefts in the main.

“Drugs have been the root of his problems.

“He had been in the Army and had some mental health issues on his discharge, but that was some time ago.”

Andrew Shaw is led from court to begin his two-year jail sentence.