Junkie sold items from council flat to fund drugs

Apr 17 2008 By our court reporter

A HAMILTON junkie moved into a furnished council flat then sold its cooker, washing machine and fridge to fund her habit.

Lorraine Paterson also bit a shop assistant outside an Uddingston supermarket when the worker tried to stop her making off with a computer monitor.

The 23-year-old mum-of-one pleaded guilty to charges of theft, assault, and failing to appear at a court diet when she appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court on Tuesday.

Fiscal depute Gillian Bradshaw told the court that Paterson was given the tenancy of the council flat in Hamilton’s Argyle Drive on September 4, 2006, but left the premises less than a fortnight later.

She took with her household goods which had been provided with the flat, including a cooker, washing machine, fridge, hoover, crockery and a pot and pan set.

The fiscal depute was unable to put a value on the stolen property but pointed out that no recovery had been made.

Ms Bradshaw also pointed out that a shop assistant in Lidl’s Uddingston store in Bothwell Road saw Paterson leaving the premises in the company of a man with a computer monitor on March 16 this year.

The witness she said had been working at the tills but had not served the couple.

Paterson ran outside, followed by the witness, who noticed the accused getting into a car.

The shop assistant ran in front of the motor vehicle and got the registration number.

Paterson then left the vehicle, ran at the witness and tried to grab the woman’s phone and glasses, which she damaged.

The accused ran away but the witness gave chase and grabbed Paterson’s jacket.

A struggle ensued and Paterson bit the shop assistant on the arm.

The tussle continued while the assistant tried to detain Paterson.

Ms Bradshaw said: “The accused grabbed the witness by the hair and swung a handbag over her head in an attempt to drag her to the ground.

“The witness sought assistance, at which point the accused stopped struggling.”

Police officers arrived and Paterson was taken to Bellshill Police Office.

She was cautioned and charged there and replied: ‘Aye. Wait till I see her outside.’

Paterson’s agent, Crawford Mason, pointed out that at the time of the theft of the appliances from the flat Paterson had been with a partner who abused drugs.

He also stressed that the assault on the shop assistant was “atypical” as Paterson’s previous convictions involved shoplifting to fund her drug habit.

He suggested to Sheriff Rae Small that his client could be put on a Drug Treatment and Testing Order (DTTO).

Deferring sentence until May 19 for a DTTO assessment, Sheriff Small told Paterson: “This behaviour is going to have to stop. I’m particularly concerned about when the shop assistant tried to stop you.”

The sheriff stressed that calling for the DTTO assessment did not necessarily mean Paterson would be put on one.

“If you are not found suitable for a DTTO, or if you offend again, it’s straight back to Cornton Vale,” he added.

Paterson was meantime bailed to her mother’s address at 8 Comrie Crescent, Hamilton.