The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Scaffolder jailed for crime spree
Ayoung Forfar man has been locked up for a year after a litany of offences which began on Christmas Day last year.
Liam Pytlak will serve 12 months in prison for the catalogue of offending across Forfar.
On Christmas day last year, he drunkenly brandished a bottle at police officers called to an address on Montrose Street, Brechin.
In September, he was caught on CCTV breaking into a car and stealing money.
On the same day he shouted abuse at a local shopkeeper, using a disgusting racial slur.
Pytlak, of Kemsley Park, Forfar, appeared at Dundee Sheriff Court before Sheriff Gregor Murray.
The 23-year-old pled guilty to charges of abusive behaviour, attempted theft, theft, assault and making racist remarks.
Fiscal depute Emma Farmer outlined the chaotic timeline of offending that brought Pytlak to court, beginning with a domestic incident with his partner on Christmas Day.
“Around 6pm on the 25th of December under the influence of alcohol, the accused, acting in a threatening manner, began throwing food items around while calling his partner derogatory names.
“(She) contacted a friend who then contacted the police out of concern for her.
“Police attended soon after and the accused was traced in the kitchen.”
Pytlak raised a bottle over his head and threatened the police officers, stating: “Who’s getting a bottle first then?”
He kept goading the officers as they tried to defuse the tense situation, saying: “Come on then.”
Pytlak continued his behaviour as he was put in handcuffs and had to be carried to the waiting police vehicle.
Ms Farmer said: “He said to the officers: ‘I’ll kill you’ and ‘I will fight all of you’.
“He tried to bite constables.”
Pytlak’s more recent brushes with the law occurred in early September, beginning with an attempted theft when he was seen trying to break into several vehicles at Fruithill, Forfar.
Between September 7 and 8, he broke into a white Peugeot on Viewmount, and stole a wallet, a bank card, a driver’s licence and lighter.
On September 8 he stole a mobile phone, a laptop and £150 in cash from an address on St James Road.
On that same day he got into an argument with a shop assistant at the Best One shop on Taranty Road, when he tried to get a refund for scratch cards.
He verbally threatened the cashier and used a highly offensive racial insult.
Defending solicitor Jim Caird told the court his client had been affected by a downturn in work opportunities due to the pandemic, as he had formerly worked as a scaffolder.
“I certainly think that’s what has influenced what’s happened here,” said Mr Caird.
Sheriff Gregor Murray addressed Pytlak before sentencing, saying: “To cut a long story short, you’ve shown periods where you thought there was light at the end of the tunnel and every time you’ve blown it spectacularly.”