Heartless crook who went through dead mum’s ashes jailed

COURT: Serial thief stole goods worth £20k to fund crack cocaine habit

A serial thief’s victim claimed he sifted through her dead mother’s ashes in his hunt for loot.

Peter Winks forced his way into homes and stole goods worth almost £20,000 to help fund his crack cocaine habit.

He was caught after his DNA was found on the windows of properties he broke into between December last year and January.

The 39-year-old was jailed for almost four years at Dundee Sheriff Court.

Winks was part of a larger gang who targeted several properties across the Broughty Ferry area.

The hoard of items Winks made off with included electronics, medical equipment, jewellery, passports and piggy banks.

The court heard goods worth more than £15,000 have not been recovered.

Gail McCabe, whose home on Sutherland Crescent was among those targeted, said: “He’s put us through a lot and stolen sentimental things which belong to my mum that I’ll never get back. He also went through my dead mum’s ashes.

“It’s the stress and anxiety that it puts you through as well. It’s the thought of what would have happened if I had caught him.”

Winks first broke into a property on Duntrune Terrace, and a torch, a hammer and screwdriver were discovered, as well as a bag with medical equipment.

Depute fiscal Saima Rasheed said DNA belonging to Winks was found on the rear window, with his break-in causing more than £370 of damage.

A family who lived on the same street also had their home targeted.

Property amounting to £7,055 was stolen, £2,205 of which was recovered.

The occupants of a third property on Fintry Place also returned home to discover their house had been ransacked, with £10,210 of goods stolen and just £550 recovered.

Winks, of Dunmore Street, Dundee, pled guilty via video link to breaking into the first Duntrune Terrace property with the intent of stealing between December 22 and January 2.

He committed the break-in at Sutherland Crescent on January 16.

He also stole bags, wallets, piggy banks, car keys, a watch, a laptop, a games console and five bottles of whisky from a property on Fintry Place. on January 12

Sheriff Lorna Drummond jailed Winks for a total of 45 months.

He’s put us through a lot and stolen sentimental things which belong to my mum that I’ll never get back. GAIL MCCABE