Thief who stole from church awaits sentence

A heartless thief who broke into an Airdrie church and stole a number of items valued at“thousands of pounds”– including a wheelchair – will be sentenced next month.

Steven Kennedy, 42, of Mavisbank Street in Whinhall, committed the callous crime at Airdrie High Church in North Bridge Street.

Prosecutor Liz Ross told Airdrie Sheriff Court previously how Kennedy, who has a catalogue of previous convictions, mostly for theft, broke into the church on February 13 last year.

As well as making off with a wheelchair, he also nicked two laptops, a bag, a bag containing a quantity of batteries, a camera, a telephone, two television sets, a hi-fi system and a vacuum.

Police later recovered the items and a spokesperson for the church revealed Kennedy used the stolen wheelchair“like a trolley”by placing the other goods into it and wheeling them away.

Ms Ross told the court that Kennedy had previous convictions and moved for sentence.

Defence lawyer Paul Belardo told Airdrie Sheriff Court earlier this month that Kennedy, who was jailed in 2016 for a break-in at an Airdrie supermarket, had stayed out of further trouble.

Mr Belardo added:“He is on a drug treatment and testing order (DTTO) review.

“He is doing well and I would invite the court to defer sentence on this new case and call for reports.

“He is also currently subject to a curfew.” The court, who heard the case in private, deferred sentence until February 21 and called for a full DTTO progress assessment, including a tagging order report, and bail was continued.