Career criminal jailed for theft

A man has been jailed for 16 months for his 100th conviction, which involved breaking into an elderly woman's home.

David McGregor, 35, was spotted wearing white gloves as he climbed through a window, Perth Sheriff Court heard.

Neighbours gave police a running commentary as the heroin addict ransacked the Perth flat on 29 January.

The 80-year-old woman was in at the time. McGregor got no more than 100 metres before he was arrested, the court was told.

Fiscal depute Nicola Gillespie said: "An employee in adjacent premises saw him leaning into the bedroom through the window.

"He saw him remove a shoebox sized item and place it in a carrier bag. He was concerned at what he was seeing and contacted the police."

Dumped haul

The doctor who witnessed the break-in then watched McGregor walk off with about £2,000 worth of the woman's jewellery and other items.

He had not even left the street when police caught up with him. He tried to run away and dump the stolen goods on a putting green.

McGregor then told police: "OK, I'll admit it. If we make a deal and sort it out, will I get out?"

He admitted donning white gloves before breaking into the flat. The majority of the stolen goods were recovered.

Child's toys

Solicitor Paul Ralph, defending, said McGregor had spoiled his son at Christmas and needed to find a way to pay for the cost of his toys.

He told the court that McGregor's efforts at theft had not been helped by the fact he had downed nearly a full bottle of whisky beforehand.

Jailing McGregor, from Perth, Sheriff Michael Fletcher said: "You should be ashamed of yourself.

"Having your house broken into is extremely upsetting, and particularly so for a person that age. It was particularly mean."