Stole booze from house

Worried residents alerted police after a man was seen trying doors in their street at midnight.

Officers then caught opportunistic Caldercruix thief Scott Brownlie redhanded with wine and spirits he’d stolen from one property.

Brownlie, 27, of Elswick Drive, appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court last week.

He admitted stealing alcohol after breaking into a house in Motherwell in July last year.

Brownlie was on bail for another matter at the time.

Neil Thomson, prosecuting, said householders were able to give police a description of the man seen acting suspiciously.

Mr Thomson told the court: “Brownlie was traced nearby and it was discovered that the front door of one house had been forced.

“The occupants were upstairs sleeping at the time and were wakened by the police.

“Wine and spirits had been taken from their house.

“Most of this was recovered in the garden.

“The total value was around £250 but bottles worth £100 were smashed during the incident.”

Brownlie, who admitted previous convictions, is currently engaging with a community payback order imposed on him earlier this year at Airdrie Sheriff Court.

Defence agent Ian Scott said his client is now living in a drugs rehabilitation unit in Greenock to seek support.

Sheriff Liam Murphy deferred sentence on Brownlie until next month for a criminal justice social work background report.

Brownlie was allowed to remain on bail until his return to the dock.