Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Last chance for restaurant raider caught on camera
A PERTH restaurant raider nabbed by police who followed a trail of dropped coins has been given one last chance to stay out of jail.
Bungling thief Christopher Anderson was caught on CCTV smashing a till and stealing drink from Willows coffee shop.
When he was traced nearby, he told officers: “I just had a drink and pinched a munchie.”
It was the fourth time the popular St John’s Place establishment has been raided within an 18 month period.
Anderson, 36, appeared at Perth Sheriff Court on Thursday, having previously admitted the break-in on September 15.
Sheriff Gillian Wade last month told him custody was at the forefront of her mind.
But in a report prepared for the court, social workers warned prison would be a “massive setback” for Anderson.
“I consider this a very difficult decision, because quite frankly the easiest thing for me to do is give you a custodial sentence,” Sheriff Wade told him.
“But I am told in no uncertain terms that you are making significant progress and for me to do that would be a retrograde step.”
The court heard Anderson, of St Catherine’s Square, is working through 100 hours of unpaid work in relation to a previous conviction.
Sheriff Wade said: “I need to see this work being done, because if there is no alternative to custody, then custody it is.
“There may be, by a margin, an alternative disposal here but I need to see all the unpaid work done by the time you come back before me – and there will be no other excuses.”
Sentence was deferred until July 26. Exasperated Willows bosses joked about installing “armed security” following recent break-ins.
Owner Michael White called police as he watched a live-feed of Anderson in his establishment.
He told us: “The last two years have been difficult enough for the hospitality industry without incidents like this.
“We’d like to thank the police for their swift response.”
Anderson caused £200 of damage and stole around £124 from the till.