Druggie who stole from store jailed

Oct 30 2008

A DRUGGIE who thieved almost £400 worth of goods from ASDA Hamilton while on bail and on probation was this week jailed for four months.

Colin Bird, of Kenilworth Crescent, had admitted carrying out the theft on July 1 this year while on bail on another matter.

Hamilton Sheriff Court was told that Bird had filled a trolley with shopping and made his way out the store. When he was stopped the goods were valued at £373.52.

Bird’s solicitor, Charles Ferguson, in his plea in mitigation described a social enquiry report prepared for the court as positive.

However, he added that the accused had spent the majority of this year homeless.

This, and his drug problem, he said, needed to be addressed.

Mr Ferguson added that he thought Bird had been understating his drug problem and needed help to tackle it.

He suggested probation as a disposal, although he recognised that this posed difficulties given Bird’s homelessness.

Sheriff Miller said that while he had sympathy with Mr Ferguson’s comments, he pointed out that the accused had committed the offence while on bail and on probation.

He added that the goods amounted to a considerable sum.

Sheriff Miller said he therefore had no alternative but to impose a custodial sentence.

However, he said he would restrict that sentence to four months’ jail, backdated to October 6.