Garden thief had sgian dubh

A DRUG-addled thief was caught with a sgian dubh after carrying out a dawn raid on a Perth mother’s back garden.

Lucy Poynter, 45, was arrested as she walked home with a haul of seven scatter cushions.

Police found the knife in her handbag.

Poynter, who has a history of drug convictions, told them she had it for “protection”.

She was resentenced at Perth Sheriff Court, having breached a previous community payback order.

Prosecutor Duncan McKenzie said Poynter – seemingly under the influence of drugs – was seen by the owner entering the rear of a property in Kingswell Terrace at around 5.30am on August 26 2021.

The fiscal depute said: “The accused was asked to leave the garden.”

She then scooped up the seven cushions and left the area.

Poynter was arrested on Rannoch Road and officers found a sgian dubh in her handbag.

“She said it was for her own protection,” Mr McKenzie said.

Poynter was taken to Dundee where she was charged.

“I’m so sorry,” she said. Poynter, of Rannoch Road, admitted stealing the cushions and having the bladed weapon.

She was originally sentenced to a community payback order, including 150 hours of unpaid work and she admitted breaching the order.

Paul Ralph, defending, asked the court to give his client “another opportunity”.

“She has no outstanding cases,” he said.

Sheriff Jennifer Bain placed Poynter on supervision for 12 months.

She was ordered to stay at home between 7pm and 7am each night for three months as part of a restriction of liberty order.

“This is your last chance to comply with a community-based order,” the sheriff told her.

Lucy Poynter.