Shop door smashed in by drunk vandal

A man who smashed a window and door at a Stirling Poundstretchers store in a rage was this week ordered to carry out unpaid work.

Robert Cumming, Stirling Sheriff Court heard, was so drunk that he thought the shop in Burghmuir Road was his home.

The 37-year-old had previously admitted a charge of maliciously damaging the retail premises on September 22 this year.

Cumming’s solicitor Ken Dalling said the background to the offence had been a breakdown in a long-term relationship.

Fiscal depute Lindsey Brooks told the court that witnesses had been at home, which overlooks the shop, at 11.30pm.

They heard banging and looking outside saw a male wearing a grey jacket and baseball cap outside the shop entrance. He was kicking and punching the glass door.

The man walked away before returning to kick the door forcefully several times causing the glass to shatter. The cost of the damage was £716.35. The witnesses contacted the police. Cumming was then seen trying to remove a trolley. Police later found the accused nearby and he was arrested.

Ms Brooks said Cumming had told police officers that he thought he was trying to get into his home.

His agent Ken Dalling told Sheriff William Gilchrist that Cumming had fallen out with his partner immediately prior to the incident. There was no excuse for Cumming’s behaviour, he added. However, the accused wished to put it behind him.

Mr Dalling said Cumming received £229 per month in Universal Credit. Aged 37 and currently living in hostel accommodation, he now wished to“plough a different furrow,”the lawyer said.

Sheriff Gilchrist pointed out that since Cumming was on benefits – and had direct debits deducted for an existing compensation order of £20 per month – no further deduction was possible.

He imposed a community payback order comprising 66 hours’unpaid work to be carried out within three months to take account of the guilty plea at the earliest opportunity.