Trolley-pushing booze thief jailed for a year

Ahapless thief who carried out a midnight raid on Marks and Spencer in Perth was caught by police pushing a trolley filled with more than £800 worth of booze.

Serial shoplifter Stephen Strain smashed his way into the city centre shop and plundered the alcohol aisle.

The bottles were recovered, but M&S was left with a repair bill of more than £1,300.

Strain, 40, appeared at Perth Sheriff Court and admitted the break-in during the early hours of December 11 last year.

He also admitted assaulting a police officer in nearby North Port, after he caught him walking up the street with an M&Sbranded trolley.

Strain, listed as an inmate at Perth Prison, was jailed for a year.

“I’m deeply ashamed,” he told the court.

Fiscal depute Michael Sweeney said: “At around 2.35am, the accused was on Mill Street, Perth.

“He smashed two large glass doors to gain entry to the Marks and Spencer’s store.”

Strain grabbed a trolley and filled it up in the alcohol aisle, the prosecutor said.

Mr Sweeney said: “At 2.50am, a call was received from the alarm company.

“It stated that the rear doors had been smashed and the accused was within the store.

“Police were made aware of this.

“They traced the accused close to North Port in Perth.

“He was found with the M&S trolley full of bottles of alcohol, with security tags still in place.”

The court heard officers took hold of Strain and led him to their van.

Mr Sweeney said: “At this point, the accused stamped on the foot of PC Scott Christie.

“He was challenging him to a fight, telling him: ‘Come on, then.’”

Mr Sweeney said: “The accused was told to calm down.

“As he was placed into the rear of the police vehicle, he kicked PC Christie to the chest.

“Police then required to secure the accused and take him to Dundee police station, where he was held before his appearance in court the next day.”

Mr Sweeney said the shop raid was captured on CCTV.

The court heard all £847 of the stolen alcohol was recuperated.

Around £1,332 worth of damage was caused to the doors.

Solicitor Linda Clark, defending, said Strain felt his mental health was deteriorating but he was not getting the support he needed.

“He accepts that he was loading up with Valium and Xanax.

“This offence takes place in front of CCTV cameras.

“There was no great thought given to this.

“Inevitably, he knew he was going to be identified and caught.”

She said the cost of the damaged doors was likely to be covered by M&S’s insurance.

Sheriff Mark Stewart told Strain: “You have a significant record for dishonesty.

“On this occasion, it is not a crime of theft by shoplifting – it is a housebreaking offence.

“You have broken into commercial premises by smashing your way through a set of secured doors in the early hours of the morning.”

The sheriff said: “Your agent has pointed out the obvious futility of this and that it was destined to fail.

“But that is only because of the company’s security and police stepped in to ensure it was a failure.

“That does not excuse your conduct.

“In the circumstances, a custodial disposal is the only option that is available to the court.”