Crook tried to break into complex for the disabled

A crook who tried to smash his way into a housing complex for severely disabled people with a garden fork has been jailed for two years.

Alexander McLanders and his brother Martin were responsible for a spate of break-ins in Dundee.

Martin McLanders was handed a three-year, four-month jail term for his role in two housebreakings at residential properties in the city committed just three days apart.

Depute fiscal John Adams told Dundee Sheriff Court the crime spree started when Martin McLanders, the elder of the pair, broke into two houses on April 3 and April 6 this year.

Turning to Alexander McLanders’ offence, Mr Adams said: “The locus is a residential unit catering for four persons with a carer present at all time.

“Around 1.18am on July 5 this year a neighbour became aware of the accused paying particular attention to the property.

“The accused was seen using a lighter round the window edges to see what he was doing before using a large garden fork to open a window there.

“He was disturbed and made off.”

Martin McLanders, 40, a prisoner at HMP Perth, pleaded guilty on indictment to one charge of attempted theft by housebreaking.

Sheriff Alastair Carmichael jailed him for 40 months.

Alexander McLanders, 35, also a prisoner at HMP Perth, admitted two charges on indictment of theft by housebreaking.

He was handed a sentence of two years’ imprisonment.