Donations tin stolen by serial offender

A Fife man has been given extra jail time for breaking into a charity shop and stealing a donations tin.

Serial offender George Stewart caused damage estimated at £2,500 when he broke into the shop in Cowdenbeath.

Stewart was also sentenced for shouting racist abuse at a sheriff in court.

Stewart, 35, of Randolph Street, Cowdenbeath, appeared at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

Stewart admitted that on March 26-27 he broke into the property occupied by Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland, Raith Centre, Cowdenbeath, and stole a charity tin.

Sheriff Derek Reekie jailed Stewart for 14 months to run consecutively to his current term for separate offences.

During an earlier court appearance in March, Sheriff Reekie, looking at Stewart’s thick file of previous convictions, said: “It’s hard to pick it up.”

He told Stewart at that time: “You have an extraordinary record. Very lengthy and worrying.”

Shop manager Carol Cook estimated that there was £2,500 worth of damage caused during the break-in.

Ms Cook was shocked to find the front window smashed when she arrived at work with her colleague, assistant manager Nicol Iztta.

She said: “We called the police and then were very wary about entering in case the thieves were still in the shop when we arrived at work.

“It’s the first time this has happened at this shop and I’m angry and disappointed a charity shop would be targeted.

“We put all the profits back to Scottish people so it’s very hard to think £2,500 worth of damage has been done here.”

Stewart also admitted that on June 22 he acted in a racially aggravated manner by shouting, swearing and making racist remarks at Sheriff Charles MacNair.

It’s very hard to think £2,500 worth of damage has been done here