The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Near-naked home intruder lost false teeth in rampage
Anearly-naked intruder’s false teeth flew out when he was confronted by a shocked householder in his hallway.
Father-of-three Craig White was forced to pick up the dentures while Eric Donaldson, 58, carried on a bizarre 15-minute rampage around his home.
The clinical researcher was working at home during lockdown when he found Donaldson topless and with his trousers around his ankles.
Fiscal depute Sarah Wilkinson told Perth Sheriff Court yesterday: “At 3.25 pm Mr White was in his office when his attention was drawn to a noise in his hall.
“He saw the accused standing in a state of undress. He had no clothing on his top half and his trousers were at his ankles.
“The accused was confrontational. He was spitting, with saliva landing on the floor and on items. Mr White continued to ask him to leave.
“The accused continued to walk around the ground floor, picking up items and rummaging in drawers. Mr White contacted the police.
“The accused continued to shout and swear and was spitting. The accused’s false teeth flew out as a result. Mr White picked these up to remove them and to protect his family.”
Mr White, 40, eventually left for his own safety and locked Donaldson in, and the house was found to be in a state of disarray when police arrived.
When the police led Donaldson from the house he was wearing Mr White’s slippers and carrying a family portrait, a pencil sharpener and a card from a pack of Happy Families. He had left behind money which had fallen from his pocket.
Mr White – whose wife and children were out for a walk at the time – said he could laugh about the incident now, but admitted it was frightening at the time.
Solicitor Mike Tavendale, defending, said Donaldson “has had a long term drug issue and has absolutely no recollection of this incident”.
Donaldson, Primrose Crescent, Perth, admitted acting in a threatening or abusive manner in Poplar Drive, Bridge of Earn, on January 12.
He admitted causing fear or alarm by entering the house uninvited in a state of undress and spitting several times – including spitting his false teeth out on to the floor.
He admitted acting aggressively, shouting and swearing, rummaging through handbags and drawers, repeatedly picking items up and refusing to leave.
Mr White said: “I picked up his teeth with a tissue and put them with the pile of his stuff outside.
“The police gave me back the things he had picked up, but they took him away wearing my slippers.
“They were a Christmas present, but I’ve got a new pair now.”
Sheriff Neil Bowie yesterday deferred sentence for Donaldson to be assessed for a restriction of liberty order and to provide evidence of his medical situation.