A “despicable” thief who stole a Poppy appeal tin just before Remembrance Day has been given a final chance by a sheriff to escape the revolving door of prison.
Drug addict Ian Robertson nabbed the charity tin from the counter of an Angus newsagent not long after being freed from his latest spell behind bars.
But police easily identified him from CCTV and he held his hands up to the offence when officers knocked on his door.
Robertson, of Newton Avenue, Arbroath appeared from custody at Forfar sheriff court where he admitted stealing the charity container and its contents from W H Smith in Arbroath High Street on November 9.
Depute fiscal Kirsten Letford said the collection can had been put on the shop counter the week prior to the offence and had not been emptied, but it was not known how much it contained.
“The accused purchased some scratchcards, stood at the counter and then left the store,” she said.
“About half an hour later staff noticed that the charity tin was missing. CCTV was reviewed and the accused was seen to take the container, placing it beneath his jacket before leaving the store.”
Police identified Robertson from the footage, and then found the empty container on the roof of a garage near the shop.
“The accused was then traced at his home and told police ‘You’re looking for a charity bottle’,” added Mrs Letford.
Robertson was found to have £37 in cash on him.
Defence solicitor Billy Rennie said Robertson had told police: “I must have been full of it and I did it.”
“That reply touched upon his drug difficulties, but he also told them he was an idiot, which sums up his view of matters,” the solicitor said.
“Since 2010 there have been no community-based disposals, and he is in danger of becoming institutionalised because of his record.
“It is a constant liberation and return to prison cycle for him but there have been some tentative steps toward stability — he is now on a methadone programme and has completed a detox programme in prison.”
Sheriff Janys Scott QC told 38-year-old Robertson: “I am prepared to defer for reports to see whether social workers feel they can work with you in an attempt to break this cycle, but it really depends on you.
“Stealing a charity box is absolutely despicable.”
