Took bank card from wallet
A heartless 27-year-old made no effort to alert his next door neighbour when he dropped his wallet outside his flat.
Instead, Alan Witherow just picked it up and used a bank card inside to fraudulently obtain almost £150 of goods from two Co-op stores in Blairgowrie.
The accused, of Picture House Court, Reform Street, repeatedly went to the Perth Street branch of the store the same day and bought items totalling almost £100.
He then visited the outlet in Coupar Angus Road on a number of occasions and racked up a bill of £50.
The offences led to the accused being fined £500 when he appeared for sentence at Perth Sheriff Court.
He admitted that on January 28, 2019, at Picture House Court, he stole the wallet and its contents by finding it and failing to discover the true owner.
He also admitted pretending to be the lawful owner of the card, issued to Grant Low, and dishonestly obtaining goods to the value of £148.84 the same day.
Depute fiscal Sarah Wilkinson said that the £40 wallet had not been recovered.
Solicitor David Holmes said the accused had suffered from mental health problems and had tried to “disguise” that by taking alcohol.
“He’s now no longer drinking and there are no outstanding cases against him.”
Imposing the fine, Sheriff Neil Bowie told Witherow: “This was clearly an opportunistic but dishonest act.
“This happened almost two years ago and it would appear some of the difficulties you had in your life are being addressed by your alcohol abstinence and support from a family member and elsewhere.”
The penalty will be paid at £100 a month.