A man tried to steal almost £3,000 of equestrian equipment from his former employer because he claimed he had not been paid.
Carlos Santos was caught red-handed loading up a car with items, including an expensive saddle, in broad daylight.
The items had been kept within a locked shed at New Farm in Errol.
Depute fiscal Mairi Graham told Perth Sheriff Court: “All of the equipment is owned by witness Bruce.
“At 12.15pm witness Winchester was walking past the locus when she observed the accused coming from the steading carrying a saddle. She considered this to be suspicious and reported it.
“Witness Robertson drove to the locus and arrived 10 minutes later, and found the garden shed and locker had been broken into and several items were missing.
“He found a red ledger next to the shed containing several letters in relation to the accused.
“He left and returned a short time later to see the accused and two other men loading items from the shed into a Ford Mondeo.
“Witness Robertson called the police and told them to unload the items from the boot.
“The value was £2,800 and there was full recovery.”
Solicitor David Holmes, defending, said: “He had previously worked for the complainer and felt that he had not been paid.”
Santos was found guilty of forcing open a locked shed to steal equestrian equipment on September 29 last year.
He further admitted possession of a knife at Perth and Kinross Council’s building at Pullar House on November 16.
Mr Holmes said Santos, who had been presenting as homeless at the council building, had “all his worldly possessions” with him in a black bin liner.
The 45-year-old, of Skinnergate, Perth, was ordered to carry out a total of 100 hours of unpaid work.
