Computer games thief pressed the panic button and jumped out window

CONSOLES RAID FOILED

A Paisley couple returned home from a morning trip to the shops to find a thug had broken into their house.

Sean Taylor was standing in Laura Chirosca’s kitchen when she and her partner returned home on November 23 last year.

Chirosca and her partner had only been out of their flat in the town’s Barr Place for 20 minutes when the 31-year-old broke in through the kitchen window.

Taylor admitted he broke into the property and stole a quantity of games consoles, games and controllers while subject to a court order made at Dumbarton Sheriff Court, West Dunbartonshire, on October 5; and another order granted on November 10 at Paisley Sheriff Court.

Prosecutor Flora Napier told the court: “Around 9.20am on Thursday, November 23, Laura Chirosca and Viorel Ocolisan left their home to go to the nearby shops.

“They locked and secured the front door but left the kitchen window unlatched.

“About 9.50am, Chirosca and Ocolisan returned to their flat, unlocked the front door and entered.

“They immediately saw the accused, who was not known to them, in their kitchen holding items from within their property.

“Chirosca screamed and the accused immediately left the flat by way of the kitchen window. Ocolisan chased after the accused for a short distance but he ran out of sight and police were contacted at this time.

“Chirosca and Ocolisan checked throughout their flat and noted items had been taken from the upstairs bedroom but had been left lying around the kitchen when the accused left upon their entry.

“The items were an Xbox one games console, an Xbox one controller, four Xbox one games, a Playstation five console and a Playstation five controller.

“Police attended and after further investigations, the accused was identified as the person involved in the housebreaking. The accused was traced, cautioned at common law and informed of his arrest.

“He was then formally cautioned and charged with a theft by housebreaking, he made no reply and was conveyed to Greenock police station and held in custody to appear at Paisley Sheriff Court the next lawful day.”

The court heard Taylor, described as a prisoner of Low Moss jail, Bishopbriggs, East Dunbartonshire, appeared at the town’s court the day after the incident and was remanded in custody having not sought bail.

Defence agent David Nicholson called for reports before his client was sentenced. Sheriff Smith adjourned sentence for the preparation of a criminal justice social work report and a restriction of liberty order assessment.

Taylor was remanded meantime and will return to the town’s court on April 25.