TERROR AT HANDS OF BALACLAVA PROWLER
MASKED SERIAL THIEF WREAKED HAVOC AFTER DARK
A prowler clad in a full- face balaclava sparked terror for a Paisley woman as he raided a block of flats at night.
Sneak thief Hugh MacQuarrie, 35, was spotted creeping around in the garden of a property at Andrews Street in the town by terrified Heather Aitken.
Paisley Sheriff Court heard drug addict MacQuarrie was also found prowling inside a different property at the same block, occupied by William Edwards.
The career criminal, who appeared from custody, yesterday admitted committing a raft of offences when he appeared before
Sheriff Colin Pettigrew.
MacQuarrie, formerly of Glen Street, also admitted breaking into a car in the town’s MacDowall Street.
He also forced his way into City Gate Construction, also MacDowall Street, where he broke into another car and stole a metal box from inside.
Shaven- headed MacQuarrie also pled guilty to breaching bail orders, where he was found outside his home address, and had refused to answer the door to police who were carrying out their checks.
Prosecutor Hazel Emmerson confirmed the Crown was accepting his pleas of guilty to the crimes , and she revealed MacQuarrie’s previous convictions.
Defence agent Gioia Modlin said: “There is a history of drug abuse and that is why these offences were committed.
“He has pleaded guilty to a number of offences. Of previous convictions, he has many.
“The court may benefit from a social inquiry report.
“For somebody under the influence of drugs, it is difficult for someone to temper court orders.”
MacQuarrie pleaded guilty to behaving in a threatening and abusive manner likely to cause fear and alarm in that he was found wearing a balaclava in the hours of darkness in Andrews Street on March 27.
On the same date he was found inside a property at the same location without a reasonable excuse, where it can be inferred he intended to steal.
MacQuarrie forced open the vehicles in MacDowall Street on January 8.
Sheriff Pettigrew, who remanded him in custody, told the yob his crimes had been “aggravated by an offence of loitering in the curtilage wearing a full face balaclava causing the occupier fear and distress.”
He adjourned for the preparation of a background report, but warned MacQuarrie he would be failing in his duty if he did not consider prison when sentencing.
MacQuarrie will discover his fate when he returns to court on July 9.